Lakers turn it over, and up
It was merely 42 instead of 81, but Kobe Bryant didn't seem to mind.
Exactly a year after lighting up the Toronto Raptors for the second-most points in NBA history, Bryant left the clutch plays to Luke Walton in a 108-103 Lakers victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday at Staples Center.
Walton had missed all eight of his shots but hit two big ones in the final two minutes, pushing the Lakers ahead of the revamped Warriors and nudging an ugly loss to New Orleans a little further out of their memories.
"He was carrying his heart on his sleeve out there," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "He thought everybody was going to cry for him for a second."
No middle ground for the Lakers
There has to be a middle ground for the Lakers, between Kobe Bryant taking over or getting everyone involved, between Luke Walton missing every shot before scoring the game's two biggest baskets, between winning at home and losing on the road.
All the same, the Lakers had to like where they stood Monday night after beating the Golden State Warriors 108-103 at Staples Center to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season.
Bryant scored 42 points - 14 in the fourth quarter - on the one-year anniversary of his 81-point game against Toronto. It was Walton, though, who probably made history with the greatest 2-for-10 shooting game the NBA has ever seen.
Bryant gets a hand against Warriors
He scores 42, and the Lakers benefit from contributions by Walton and Bynum.
By KEVIN DING; The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant got more than halfway to the crazy 81-point plateau on the one-year anniversary of his scoring blowout, finishing with 42 points. But for the Lakers to make it a victorious celebration, it took some help from Luke Walton and Andrew Bynum in potentially their final games picking up slack for injured Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown.
The Lakers rode a fourth- quarter rally to a 108-103 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. Bryant had 14 fourth-quarter points in a game where he was not denied by Golden State's double teams or zones.
Major help appears to be on way
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
January 23, 2007
One by one, they're coming back, perhaps even two at the same time.
Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown are expected to practice today, although Brown said he felt some pain in his ankle while working on post moves Monday morning. Odom is on target to return Friday against Charlotte, but Brown's situation is a little less clear.
Odom has been out since Dec. 12 because of a sprained knee ligament but didn't seem overly concerned about being rusty. The Lakers have three days before their next game, enough time to integrate him back into the flow.
Brown, Odom Hope to Return Friday
10:00 PM PST on Monday, January 22, 2007
LOS ANGELES - The Lakers hope they will be getting reinforcements this week.
Andrew Bynum gets one of his four blocked shots against Golden State's Stephen Jackson during the first half. Bynum also had 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Both Lamar Odom (sprained right knee) and Kwame Brown (sprained left ankle) plan on practicing today and hope to play Friday night against Charlotte at Staples Center.
"Practice is the test," Odom said. "Practices are harder than the game, so I'll push myself a little bit for three days and see how it reacts."
Laker Reports 1/23; Too many TO's; Help is on the way
The Andrew "Socks" Bynum Fan Club 
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