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Bryant on song as Lakers crush Trail Blazers

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-30 08:34

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant delivered a masterclass to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 96-76 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in their NBA season opener Tuesday.

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (R) goes up to shoot past Portland Trail Blazers Joel Przybilla during their NBA game in Los Angeles, October 28, 2008.[Agencies]

The inspirational league MVP registered 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as the Lakers launched their quest for a first NBA title since 2001-02 in triumphant style.

Spanish forward Pau Gasol contributed 15 points and Trevor Ariza 11 from the bench to hold off brief fightbacks by Portland early in the third and fourth quarters at a packed Staples Center.

Forward Travis Outlaw top-scored for the visitors with 18 points but rookie center Greg Oden, on his much-anticipated return from a year out because of a knee injury, left the game late in the first half scoreless with a sprained right foot.

Oden, the first pick in the 2007 draft, would have an MRI exam on Wednesday, Portland officials said.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson was especially delighted with the quality of his team's defence in the first game of their campaign.

"I thought it looked pretty good," he told reporters.

"We made them take hurried shots with the clock running down or shots out of their comfort zone. But they did miss some open shots so we can't take all the credit for the defence."

All-Star guard Bryant, who helped the Los Angeles outfit win three consecutive NBA championships from 2000-2002, agreed.

GOOD JOB

"I think we did well," he said. "This is a team that always tests us and we did a good job tonight. It was our responsibility to try and pick things up. I'm very pleased."

With Gasol and veteran guard Derek Fisher leading the way against younger and more inexperienced opposition, the Lakers raced into a 24-14 lead after a scrappy first quarter.

Although the Western Conference champions stretched their advantage to 49-34 by half-time, they lost momentum early in the third quarter as Portland poured in seven unanswered points.

Roared on by chants of "MVP, MVP," Bryant responded in appropriate style with a superb three-pointer before notching two more with a hard drive to the basket.

Bryant, marshalling his team mates effectively on the counter-attack, finished the quarter with a tally of 13 points to help his team establish a commanding 72-53 lead going into the final period.

Watched by a capacity crowd that included Hollywood actors Jack Nicholson and Denzel Washington, the Lakers kept Portland on the back foot from the start of the game to the finish.

"They were on a mission," Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "They were the aggressors. They jumped on us and kept the pressure on. It was just total domination.

"Tonight we saw what it was like to play in the West against a team like the Lakers. The play went up tonight and we weren't ready for that."