Jumaine-Streaming It

Jumaine Jones was a throw-in, an afterthought in the Gary Payton trade in August.

On Sunday, simply stated, he was the reason the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic.

Jones scored 25 points and made seven of eight three-point attempts as the Lakers defeated Orlando, 105-98, in front of 18,997 at Staples Center.

Chris Mihm also had 25 points, and Kobe Bryant had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but Jones rose far above his average of 4.2 points per game and matched his three-point output for the entire season.

“We razzed him a little bit because he missed a wide-open jumper last game and he came back tonight and more than redeemed himself for it,” Bryant said. “We have an understanding on this team that if you are open and have a good shot, just shoot it. Everybody knows that and everybody has confidence in themselves to be able to knock those shots down and he got on a nice roll.”

Jones had 22 points in the first half as the Lakers trailed, 59-56. He did not score again until taking a three-pointer from the top of the arc with 1:59 left to play.

The shot went down, the crowd responded with an outburst of euphoria and the game was essentially over, the Lakers holding onto the 100-96 lead that Jones supplied.

“I really only get two or three looks a game but being the player that I am, you have to knock down the shots that you get, even if you’re not getting as many,” Jones said. “When you get them, you have to make them and I was able to.”

Jones was not included in the initial deal that sent Payton, Rick Fox and a conditional first-round pick to the Celtics for Mihm, Chucky Atkins, Marcus Banks and a second-round selection.

Payton dragged his feet and refused to report for a physical with the Celtics, who threatened to nullify the deal unless the Lakers sent back Banks, an intriguing but erratic point guard, for Jones, coming off an injury-plagued season with the Celtics. The Lakers also returned the Celtics’ second-round draft pick.

Jones was a non-factor last season in Boston, playing only 42 games and averaging 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds. He sustained a strained hamstring before last season and never found a consistent place in the lineup.

He started off on solid ground with the Lakers but had another injury setback, sustaining a strained calf while participating in layup lines during halftime of the Lakers’ fifth game. He missed the next six games, including a 122-113 loss to the Magic in Orlando, where Jones lives during the off-season.

“I was upset I wasn’t able to play down in Orlando,” Jones said. “Seeing those guys in the summertime, at least we can say we won one game. ... They can’t say they swept us.”

Mihm, in his fifth season, also was a difference-maker Sunday against the team that came in with the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Mihm made 11 of 18 shots and took 14 rebounds, six in the fourth quarter. He had only four points and three rebounds in the Lakers’ victory Saturday against the Clippers.

“I had a little bit of a slow one [because] the Clippers did a good job of packing the paint and making it hard for me to get any touches,” Mihm said. “I really wanted to come out [Sunday] with energy and demand that ball and find a way to get it.”

Said Orlando guard Steve Francis: “Mihm probably played the best game he has ever played in the NBA.”