Lakers’ Andrew Bynum plays Tim Duncan hard but comes up short

Reporting from San Antonio — 

Say this about Andrew Bynum: He was not afraid of Tim Duncan.

But also say this about Bynum: He needed 23 shots to score 23 points, never a barometer of success in the NBA.

The Lakers’ center was up for a challenge but was outplayed by the San Antonio Spurs’ perennial All-Star in the Spurs’ 105-85 victory Tuesday at AT&T Center.

Bynum made 11 of 23 shots (47.8%), a drop from his 55.6% accuracy coming into the game. Duncan had 25 points on 12-for-19 shooting (63.2%).

Bynum was more assertive than usual, calling for the ball in the post on numerous occasions.

Dare it be said? The Lakers’ game plan seemed to include pounding the ball down low to Bynum. The Lakers often fed Bynum in isolation plays with Duncan on him in the post.

“He did a pretty good job,” Jackson said. “He had maybe four shots or so that were in and out. It could have made it a great game [for him] but made it a so-so game.”

Jackson seemed to like Bynum’s attitude and penchant for getting good position down low.

“It was a place we could go and get good penetration [in the post] and that’s a big key in basketball,” Jackson said.

Duncan outrebounded Bynum, 13-8. Duncan had four blocked shots, Bynum had two.

“We definitely go hard at each other,” Bynum said. “Today in the first half I wasn’t being aggressive enough defensively. That second half I came out and played better defense on Duncan in the third quarter and I got it going.”

Bynum, 22, outscored Duncan, 33, in the third quarter, 8-4.

Bynum could again be a big part of the Lakers’ plans Wednesday night against Dallas.

Pau Gasol isn’t expected to play because of a strained left hamstring and Kobe Bryant might be sidelined by back spasms that knocked him out of Tuesday’s game late in the third quarter.

“We’ve got to really come together as a unit and start playing some basketball, a more efficient game offensively,” Bynum said.

Bynum had gone 23 games without a double-double before doing it three games in a row going into Tuesday.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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