It was one game, but what a game

It was team photo day for the Lakers, and, unlike the last few weeks, they didn’t have to force any smiles.

Still buoyed by Kobe Bryant’s 65-point outburst, the Lakers bathed in regeneration Saturday, their seven-game losing streak finally over and a fairly easy schedule awaiting them the rest of the regular season.

With 11 of their last 16 games against sub-.500 teams, sixth place in the Western Conference looked a little more attainable after their 116-111 overtime victory Friday against Portland. (Denver, on their heels in seventh place, has a much more difficult schedule, with a five-game trip coming up and 10 games left against teams .500 or better.)

So it wasn’t surprising to hear Bryant accept Ronny Turiaf’s challenge that he couldn’t make two turnaround three-pointers in five attempts from the corner, just like the one he drilled with 44 seconds left in overtime.

Bryant, of course, won the bet.

“I just needed to make two, so I was goofing around for the first three,” he said.

After finally ending another long losing streak, things were looking up for the Lakers.

Lamar Odom played better against the Trail Blazers, with 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists without a turnover.

Luke Walton also said his ankle was feeling “60 times better” and predicted he would play today against Minnesota. He had 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists Thursday against Denver but was a late scratch Friday after failing to shake lingering pain in a sore right ankle that sidelined him for 21 games.

It’s hard to call one overtime victory against a non-playoff team the return of momentum, but the somber mood that characterized the Lakers for weeks seemed to have dissipated Saturday.

“Guys seemed to be in much better spirits today,” Bryant said. “Hopefully it will be something that kind of carries for a while.”

Their next five opponents -- Minnesota, Memphis, New Orleans, Golden State and Memphis again -- all have losing records, although the Lakers didn’t seem to want to hear about their weak schedule.

Bryant, when told about it, bent down and knocked on the hardwood floor at the Lakers’ training facility.

Coach Phil Jackson, aware of trying to work injured players back in the lineup, and perhaps of the Lakers’ struggles against losing teams, also sounded cautious.

“We just can’t look any farther than the next game,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the Little Sisters of Minerva.”

*

Bryant’s late-game finish -- 24 points in the fourth quarter and nine in overtime -- was met by Jackson’s approval.

“I wish he would do it every night,” Jackson said. “It’s impossible to defend against. That’s what makes teams great. We don’t want to have to force him into that kind of a need situation night after night, but when we’re going as bad as we are now, we welcome that.”

TODAY

vs. Minnesota, 5 p.m., ESPN, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 34-32, Timberwolves 28-36.

Record vs. Timberwolves -- 2-1.

Update -- The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in double overtime, 117-107, on March 6, with Kobe Bryant subsequently suspended for a game for striking guard Marko Jaric in the face after his shot was blocked.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com