Luke Walton News

Neither one of them complained when their playing time diminished. Instead, Shannon Brown and Luke Walton worked harder.

Kobe Bryant scored 28 points, Shannon Brown added 15 and the Los Angeles Lakers thrived again without their top two big men, beating the New Orleans Hornets 104-88 Sunday night.

An MRI exam revealed that Andrew Bynum avoided serious injury, but has a strained right elbow, making him doubtful for Friday's game against the Grizzlies.

There were two milestones for Kobe Bryant on Friday nightduring the Lakers' 114-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzliesat Staples Center.

Trevor Ariza shrugged his broad shoulders and tilted his head, silently declaring that he really did not know what to say.

Whatever happened Friday, whatever seeped into the Lakers in an embarrassing home loss to Dallas, evaporated into a fine powder and blew away when they reconvened at Staples Center two days later.

From the Bleacher Report : One of the greatest misconceptions about this Lakers team is that they have incredible depth.

Forward Pau Gasol is sitting out the Los Angeles Lakers' season opener to rest his strained right hamstring.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points and the Dallas Mavericks were 25 of 32 from the free throw line in routing the Los Angeles Lakers 94-80 Friday night for their first win of the season.

As Sasha Vujacic left the practice court Thursday afternoon after his customary 20 minutes of extra jump shots, the Lakers guard seemed surprised that a handful of reporters had stuck around to speak to him.

Unlike last year when they could draw inspiration from the sight of anything green or shamrocked, or the mere mention of their championship collapse, the Lakers don't have the sting of an NBA Finals loss against their hated rivals to drive them anymore.

All in all, a strong opening to the '09-'10 season. Breakdown below. This was a TNT game delayed at the start with a ring ceremony before the tip.

To this one. The one he wore at Taft High. Does that not show he's rededicated himself to being No.

First comes emotion, then 82-game season begins Eds: APNewsNow. By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES First come the championship rings and the raising of their 15th championship banner, along with a few minutes of revelry reflecting on last season.

It will be debated and discussed for the next five years. Did the Lakers do the right thing in essentially trading up-and-comer Trevor Ariza for already-there Ron Artest ? An unforgettable July afternoon turned into the busiest of the summer for the Lakers after they agreed to terms with Artest on a five-year, $34-million free-agent contract.

No team has higher expectations for this coming season than the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers will make their annual appearance in San Diego Friday night when they face the Denver Nuggets in an exhibition game at the San Diego Sports Arena.

So far so good. The Lakers' bench, which had problems all last season including the playoffs, seems to be returning to their 2007-2008 form.

Everything seems fine on the surface. Actually, everything seems better than fine.

Three weeks into a preseason that began with his vow to make his first All-Star team, Andrew Bynum is showing the scoring punch necessary to deliver on that promise.