Kobe, Lakers Still Casting Around

The Lakers decided to join a game already in progress and almost got away with it, but for one small detail.

There’s only so much Kobe Bryant can do.

Bryant had an NBA season-high 46 points on 14-for-36 shooting and, to recycle a line that has become the norm, had little help from his supporting cast in a 102-96 overtime loss to the New Jersey Nets on Sunday night at Staples Center.

Brian Cook had 14 points and was the only other Laker in double figures.

A horrendous first half got the Lakers in trouble, as did a poor showing by Lamar Odom, who last week declared his desire to average 20 points over a four-game span, then backed down after a chat with Coach Phil Jackson. He had eight points on one-for-11 shooting, with 10 rebounds and five assists in 47 minutes.

That the Lakers forced overtime was an upset in itself.

They trailed at halftime, 36-28, scoring only four more points than the team record for fewest points in a half.

Jackson called it a “mud bath,” as the missed shots collected at the feet of the Lakers, including Bryant, who had seven points on two-for-eight shooting in the first half.

But there were signs of a Laker rally -- all it took was one made shot -- late in the third quarter, when Bryant called for a clear-out with Jacque Vaughn guarding him above the three-point line. Bryant waited, waited, then hit a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in the quarter to bring the Lakers to within 65-56.

Bryant had 19 points in the third quarter and another 19 in the fourth, including two three-pointers in the final 30 seconds, the latter coming from the right corner over Jason Kidd with 13.7 seconds left to bring the Lakers to within 88-87.

After Kidd made two free throws, Odom’s three-point attempt bounced off the back of the rim with three seconds left, but Cook took the rebound over Net center Clifford Robinson and hit an eight-footer at the buzzer.

The Lakers were outscored in overtime, 11-5, making only two of eight shots.

“It’s setting up a habit that’s not going to be broken unless we got some more support for [Bryant] out on the floor,” Jackson said.

Odom was assertive and active in a 23-point effort Thursday against Seattle, but he disappeared Sunday. He had only two points at halftime, on one-for-four shooting.

“It’s a major concern for us,” Jackson said, “a major concern when we have a player like Lamar Odom ... after a ballgame where he had 23 points, shot well from the field, comes back and was hesitant tonight. That’s a major concern for us. And our offense kind of sputtered behind him.”

Said Odom: “Just missed. That’s it. Just one of those nights.”

Bryant had only seven points in the first half as the Lakers flirted with the lowest-scoring half in team history.

They missed their first 10 shots and trailed, 8-0, before Chris Mihm scored on a layup with 5:44 left in the first quarter. They missed 17 of 20 shots in the quarter, were booed when they called timeout with 3:47 left, and trailed, 26-10, going into the second quarter.

“We really got ourselves mired into a real mud bath out there,” Jackson said. “Moving the ball was difficult for us. Passing the ball was difficult for us. Shooting was tough.”

Said Bryant: “Just unacceptable.”

The Lakers tied the score at 75-75 when Bryant converted a three-point play with 5:18 to play. They never could take the lead.

If Cook had missed his shot at the buzzer, no Laker other than Bryant would have hit double figures.

“The opportunity is there,” Bryant said. “Guys just have to attack and do it within the confines of the offense.”

The Lakers fell to 5-7 and now have eight of their next 10 games on the road, a fact that made Bryant blanch when a reporter pointed it out to him.

“You’re like the grim reaper right now,” he said.