Kid center turns out to be Lakers’ man of the hour

Andrew Bynum showed none of the nervousness Tuesday that might be expected of a 19-year-old kid who had been anointed the Lakers’ starting center and was about to make his first career start before a festive and expectant Halloween night crowd at Staples Center.

His preparation was simple.

“I just slept,” he said.

Young enough to benefit from an afternoon nap but too old to go trick-or-treating, Bynum played well against the big boys Tuesday night, dulling the pain of Kobe Bryant’s absence for at least one night.

The Lakers’ 114-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns was rough around the edges, scarier at times than the many costumed ghouls, caped crusaders and ninja turtles scattered throughout the stands.

Scarier, even, than the purple dreadlocks sported by Vic the Brick.

And Bynum had some shaky moments, too, especially on defense. But overall, he was impressive, earning a rousing ovation when he returned to the game with five minutes left and continuing the promise he’d shown in exhibition play.

He had been Plan C for the Lakers, the third option at center after Kwame Brown’s shoulder injury and Chris Mihm’s slow-healing ankle gave them little choice. But if his first start is any indication, Bynum may prove to be a prize -- and not of the consolation variety.

Bynum, who averaged 1.6 points in 46 games as a rookie last season, collected 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists Tuesday, all career highs, in 24 minutes and got in Amare Stoudemire’s face more than once in the second half as the Lakers erased the ugly memory of the Suns’ 77.3% shooting in the first quarter. And he did it all on a sprained right foot apparently suffered in the first quarter.

“It’s a solid game,” he said afterward.

It was Bynum’s little 11-foot hook shot that tied the score at 61 with 10:04 left in the third quarter. His layup soon after that cut Phoenix’s lead to 69-67 and enabled the Lakers to seize the momentum.

With Bryant watching from the bench, pumping his fist in encouragement, Bynum grew more assured moment by moment, more confident in his ability to play in the low post.

“It’s a track meet out there,” Bynum said, shaking his head. “Those guys run so fast. But they kind of let up on us after they scored 41” in the first quarter.

His performance was everything that his mentor, Lakers assistant coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, had hoped it would be.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for him to get the game experience that he needs to progress,” said Abdul-Jabbar, who had made Bynum his special project during the exhibition season.

“In high school he didn’t play much his senior year or his junior year, so he really doesn’t have any game experience playing against this level of athletes. The last time he played regularly, he played against high school students.”

Bynum, who may still add bulk to his 7-foot, 275-pound frame, wasn’t playing against any high school students on Tuesday. He was the one getting some lessons in the early going, drawn out of the low post several times for opportunities that the Suns turned into easy baskets.

“I was kind of nervous at the beginning,” he said.

But he adapted quickly, learning on the run.

“Last year really helped make him understand where he has to be in terms of how to compete,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I think he’s ready for this year and I think he’ll do a good job.”

Bynum’s progress, Abdul-Jabbar said, has been as much mental as physical. Bynum has learned to believe he can do the job, and that’s half the battle.

“He’s certainly out of adolescence this year,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “He’s matured and learned a lot about the game. He doesn’t know too much about how to play the game in this environment and that’s the big hurdle for him.

“He’s capable of clearing that hurdle. Already this year we’ve seen that he can. He’s blocking shots and, most importantly, taking care of his defensive assignments. He’s playing against men who are his equal as an athlete and if you have no experience that can be kind of intimidating.”

Bryant said Bynum “doesn’t really seem like the type of kid that gets affected by pressure. He’s pretty even-keeled.” That temperament can only help Bynum in a high-profile position on a high-profile team that survived Bryant’s absence Tuesday and will have to get by without him again tonight at Oakland.

“We know what he can do. We know what he’s capable of doing,” Bryant said. “It’s just about him going out and doing it now.

“He really worked hard this summer and had a great preseason and it’s a matter of him going out and relaxing.”

Coach Phil Jackson said before the game that he hadn’t given Bynum any special advice other than to retain the form he’d shown during exhibition play, when he’d averaged 10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds.

“He played aggressively the last two games and I took that as a good sign,” Jackson said, referring to 16- and 23-point efforts by Bynum in the last two preseason games against Phoenix and Denver.

The best sign was that Bynum carried that over to the real season.

He may not have gotten any Halloween candy, but the kid’s got game.

helene.elliott@latimes.com