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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Lakers shoot down Warriors, 101-93

Lakers photo gallery

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant attempts a pump fake against Golden State's Mickael Pietrus.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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NBA EXHIBITION

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors

When: 7 p.m. today

Where: Stan Sheriff Center

Tickets: $10, $25, $35 and $80; available at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH-Manoa Campus Center, RainbowTique at Ward Centre, and Windward Community College’s OCET Office. Also online at etickethawaii.com or charge-by-phone at 944-2697.

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Los Angeles' Devean George plows into Golden's State's Derek Fisher, a former Laker, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Kobe Bryant is apparently coachable and capable.

Bryant scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-93 victory over the Golden State Warriors in a preseason game last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

A crowd of 7,307 watched the preseason opener for both teams. The Lakers and Warriors have been training on O'ahu since Oct. 4. They will play another preseason game today at 7 p.m. at the Sheriff Center.

"I think we did a good job keeping our poise," Bryant said. "They didn't rattle us. We just stuck with the game plan and executed."

Bryant scored 16 points in the second quarter, helping the Lakers rally from a 16-point deficit in the first quarter.

"There was a book called 'Helter Skelter' a few years ago," Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson said. "That's kind of what this game personified. It was pretty difficult to watch for a while. But we collected ourselves and came back and played."

Bryant and Jackson have been the focus of the Lakers' training camp, in part because Jackson is returning after a one-year hiatus, and because he described Bryant as "uncoachable" in a tell-all book that came out last year.

However, Bryant gave credit to Jackson's famed "triangle" offense for allowing the Lakers to rally last night.

"Even though (Golden State) jumped out to a big lead, we had a script," Bryant said. "And we just stayed to it. We got back in the game that way. It's Phil and the system, absolutely."

Los Angeles point guard Smush Parker scored the first basket of the game, but Golden State responded with a 14-0 run.

The Warriors increased the lead to 24-8 behind their dynamic backcourt duo of Baron Davis and Jason Richardson. They each scored seven points in the first quarter, and Davis added five assists.

Davis and Richardson also combined on the play of the game in the second quarter. On a fast break, Davis tossed the ball off the backboard and a trailing Richardson grabbed it in midair and dunked it in the basket to give the Warriors a 43-33 lead.

"We must have given up five or six layups, dunks, spectacular baskets," Jackson said. "And then we had to adjust."

In particular, the Lakers turned to Bryant. As Los Angeles forward Kwame Brown put it: "Kobe got hot. That's always good."

Led by Bryant, the Lakers chipped away at the lead in the second quarter. Los Angeles closed the half with an 11-3 run to cut the Golden State lead to 56-55 at intermission. Bryant scored seven points in the final 1:40 of the half, including a reverse dunk after a drive across the baseline.

Bryant scored 24 points in the first half. He made just two of his first six field goals of the game, but then made six of his next eight.

"Kobe really hurt us," Golden State head coach Mike Montgomery said. "You're not going to shut a player like Kobe Bryant down."

The Lakers maintained the momentum in the second half, going on a 15-6 run to take a 70-62 lead in the third quarter.

Los Angeles took a 76-74 lead into the fourth quarter, and the Laker reserves maintained the advantage the rest of the way against the Warrior back-ups.

Bryant was 10 of 19 from the field, and made all eight of his free throws. He also had a team-high five assists and five rebounds, even though he did not play in the fourth quarter.

Lamar Odom added 16 points, and Brian Cook contributed 10 for the Lakers.

Davis led the Warriors with 17 points, followed by Richardson with 14 and Mickael Pietrus with 13.

Golden State guard Derek Fisher said: "Any time you play against the Lakers and there's a large crowd, the competitive nature comes out. Even though it was a preseason game, I think the natural competitiveness came out in a lot of players on both teams. It should be like that again (today).

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.