Lakers Work to Beat Warriors

Whatever had ailed the Lakers went away, at least for a day, by the time Golden State’s visit to Staples Center had come to an end.

It wasn’t easy -- is anything these days for the Lakers? -- but the memory of an unpleasant loss in Chicago two days earlier had receded a bit further into the past after the Lakers came from behind to beat the Warriors, 97-88, in front of 18,997 Friday.

Kobe Bryant, who failed to carry the Lakers in an ill-fated fourth quarter against the Bulls, tried to return to his part-time role as facilitator on a quirky night for him.

He had 10 points on three-of-12 shooting and had 10 assists, 12 rebounds and eight turnovers, falling short of a quadruple-double of sorts while fighting off scads of double teams.

Keeping in mind the Warriors have lost 12 of 15 games, including all three against the Clippers, the Lakers didn’t celebrate as if the West had been won.

They took it for what it was, a victory against a poor team before a rare four-day break between games, their next test Wednesday against the Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns.

Afterward, Laker Coach Rudy Tomjanovich talked about Bryant by relating a story from his own playing days, discussing a game at the Forum where he said Jerry West was cold until hitting the winning shot.

“I think he was seven for 27,” Tomjanovich said. “The guy gets the shot, made the shot and was eight for 28 and they won. I just thought [Friday] was great, just showing [Bryant] could win even when he’s not at the top of his game.

“Kobe didn’t shoot the ball well but I think generated a whole bunch of offense, especially late, [he] really wanted to exploit their double teams.”

Caron Butler had a season-high 27 points, and Chris Mihm and Brian Cook each had 15, but a game synopsis started and ended with Bryant, as will be the norm throughout the season.

Bryant was pass-first throughout, driving and distributing, trying to find an open teammate, perhaps overcompensating for his shoot-first approach against the Bulls.

Bryant took two shots in the first half, making one and sinking two free throws for four points as the Lakers took a 54-47 halftime lead.

By game’s end, backup point guard Tierre Brown had as many points as Bryant in less than half the playing time.

Bryant scored on a driving layup with 2:18 left in the second quarter and didn’t have another basket until making an 18-footer as the shot clock wound down with 5:00 left to play.

But Bryant found Lamar Odom for an easy dunk with 4:19 left to play, giving the Lakers an 86-83 lead and putting an end to the Warriors’ momentum on a night where a former franchise favorite, Derek Fisher, returned to play against his old team.

“This was like a high school defense,” Bryant said. “It was like a box-and-one, three guys on one side. I wasn’t going to force the issue, just move the ball around. I think teams want to see if I can do that.”

Fisher, who spent the last eight seasons with the Lakers before signing with the Warriors, was all business beforehand, declining an interview request by saying, “Fun and games is over for right now.”

After a loud ovation during a pregame presentation, Fisher’s night grew relatively silent. Fisher, who backs up Speedy Claxton at point guard, checked into the game with 3:55 left in the first quarter. He had four points in 18 minutes, although his transition layup gave the Warriors a 76-74 lead with 9:33 left in the fourth quarter.

Butler picked up the scoring slack, hitting in transition and half-court sets. For good measure, he added defensive flair, getting behind Dale Davis in the low post and swatting his shot attempt into the first row in the first quarter.

“I just put in a little extra time at the gym,” Butler said. “The [recent] road trip wasn’t good for me. I wasn’t knocking down shots like I should have. I just had to put my time in at the gym.”