Week 3 in review: Lakers get second victory

The Lakers finished Week 3 with their second win of the season, overtaking the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, 97-85, ending a four-game losing streak that started in New York against the Knicks.

While the Lakers were debating if they should play Kobe Bryant for 82 games this season, including those on back-to-back nights, the team’s veteran guard sat out against the Miami Heat with a sore back.

While Nick Young played well in Bryant’s absence, the Lakers fell to the Heat, 101-88.

Bryant missed his second consecutive game the following night as the Lakers lost to the Orlando Magic on Nikola Vucevic’s game-winning shot at buzzer.

Rookie guard D’Angelo Russell got valuable fourth-quarter playing time, but couldn’t help the Lakers seal the win. Should Coach Byron Scott pay the inexperienced 19-year-old more, despite his struggles?

While Bryant was listed as questionable for the Lakers’ visit to Dallas, he said his goal was to play against the Mavericks.

In the Lakers’ only visit to Dallas this season, Bryant was able to return to the court after missing two games.

Even with Bryant back, the Lakers ultimately fell to the Mavericks, 90-82.

Returning to his roots in Dallas, forward Julius Randle did not look at home. While the Lakers showed improvement, they lost their eighth game in nine tries.

Bryant did his best to console Scott through the losing streak.

The NBA acknowledged an officiating error that led to center Roy Hibbert fouling out.

The Lakers returned home to face the Pistons, who have seen Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson help get Detroit off to a strong start to the season.

Bryant played a season-high 36 minutes, but will skip the Lakers’ trip to Phoenix to play the Suns on Monday.

At the Pistons game, the Lakers took time to honor heroes from the Paris train attack.

Meanwhile, San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge said Bryant was the best part of the Lakers’ free-agent pitch in July -- although he ultimately spurned the Lakers.

Finally, Robert Upshaw is confident the D-Fenders will help lead him to the NBA, as he joins a roster with a total of five former Lakers, including players who were on the training camp roster but never made the regular-season squad.

The D-Fenders opened their season with two straight victories, equal to the Lakers’ total through 10 games.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.