It’s no longer a zero-sum game as Lakers finally get first win

Fear not. The Lakers won’t go 0-82.

After so much had gone wrong in two long weeks, they unwrapped a surprisingly easy victory Sunday to end their worst start in 57 years.

Partial standing ovations in the third quarter turned into loud appreciative ones in the fourth as the Lakers beat the Charlotte Hornets, 107-92, at Staples Center.

Streamers fell from above, courtside ticket-holders couldn’t stop beaming, and was that a smile from Kobe Bryant? Maybe. But certainly no celebrating for a team with a 1-5 record, even though an 0-7 start in 1957 can no longer be matched.

“Got to start somewhere,” Bryant said.

TNT analyst Charles Barkley can now eat without guilt after claiming he would fast until the Lakers won a game.

Jeremy Lin matched Bryant with 21 points and Carlos Boozer also showed some value by scoring 16 points.

Who knows when the “we want tacos” chant might make another appearance? The next game in which the Lakers will be favored is probably a couple weeks away.

Bryant didn’t come close to his 39-point, 37-shot totals in a 112-106 loss to Phoenix last Tuesday. He still isn’t shooting with much accuracy — seven for 20 Sunday — but was more judicial in his shot selection and handed out four assists instead of the lonely one he had against Phoenix.

The Lakers held an opponent under 100 points for the first time this season but there wasn’t much going on in the locker room afterward.

“They were all pretty quiet in there, to be honest with you,” Lakers Coach Byron Scott said. “I don’t think nobody was overjoyed in there.”

Bryant was animated over the first five games because of anger and frustration. He showed a different demeanor Sunday for obvious reasons.

He pumped his fist from the bench after Ronnie Price stole the ball early in the fourth quarter. He clapped vigorously when the Lakers forced Charlotte into a shot-clock violation. His voice didn’t show misery or sarcasm after the victory.

“If the team goes 0-5, a lot should be made of it,” Bryant said, later adding more context to a franchise with 16 championships, five with him.

“It’s a lot different being here in this city with this organization than it is with some of the other ones. A win-at-all-costs mentality is something that’s not very familiar around the league. Successful is winning a division or winning the Western Conference. That just don’t fly out here.”

But between now and a Nov. 23 home game against Denver, the Lakers play at Memphis, at New Orleans, home against San Antonio and Golden State, at Atlanta, at Houston and at Dallas.

“We know the challenges that lie ahead,” Bryant said.

Lin seemed more at ease, shooting threes without hesitation and driving when necessary. He made eight of 12 shots, had seven assists and yelled loudly after hitting a three-pointer in the fourth quarter, a rare show of emotion for him.

Reserve center Ed Davis had some hustle plays and also a dunk over Jason Maxiell that earned a loud response from the crowd.

“Guys weren’t looking to just get the ball to Kobe and move out of the way,” Scott said.

They could also use more defensive stops like they showed against the Hornets (3-4).

Al Jefferson had 40 points in Charlotte’s 110-100 victory here last season but was much quieter this time, finishing with 23 points on shaky 10-for-23 shooting.

“We sat down on them defensively,” Bryant said. “We did a really good job, really active, flying around and making them take tough shots.”

Another rarity: The Lakers won the battle at the three-point line, making six of 17 (35.3%) while Charlotte was three for 14 (21.4%).

The Lakers didn’t lead until Boozer’s 15-footer with 5:07 left in the third quarter. Then Lin added a three-pointer for a 64-59 edge. The building started to get loud after Bryant’s three-pointer made it 67-59.

From there it became official, the Lakers’ first victory. It took 13 days to finally arrive.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

Twitter: Mike_Bresnahan