Kobe Bryant struggles as Lakers trail Pistons, 45-41, at halftime

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Kobe Bryant is experiencing a rough shooting night as he switches back and forth between two new protective masks.

Bryant has nine points on two-for-10 shooting and the Lakers trail the Detroit Pistons at halftime, 45-41, Tuesday at The Palace.

Bryant ditched the clear plastic mask he wore the last three games for a black mask with smaller dimensions. He started out one for six and traded that mask for a smaller clear version of the one he wore in recent games.

But it didn’t help.

Bryant had been playing well since sustaining a broken nose, but he’ll need a better second half Tuesday for the Lakers to win.

The Pistons (12-26) erased a 12-point lead with a second-quarter push. Rodney Stuckey has 12 points for them.

Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol were solid down low against the Pistons’ undersized line.

Bynum has 13 points, Gasol has 10. They combined to make 10 of 13 shots.

The Lakers (23-14) are beginning a three-game trip that continues Wednesday in Washington and ends Friday in Minnesota.

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