Gasol Debut a Success, Kobe injured

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Pau Gasol was a winner in his Lakers debut, without even much help from Kobe Bryant.

Gasol had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Lakers beat the New Jersey Nets 105-90 on Tuesday night despite a season-low six points from Bryant, his first single-digit effort in more than a year.

Derek Fisher matched a season high with 28 points to lead the Lakers, who improved to 3-1 on their nine-game road trip. Bryant shot 3-of-13 from the floor but had eight assists in his lowest-scoring effort since an eight-point game against Denver on Jan. 5, 2007.

He seemed to work well with Gasol, who was 10-of-15 and showed he may help the Lakers get by just fine until Andrew Bynum returns from his knee injury.

Vince Carter scored 27 points for the Nets, who trailed by only three points midway through the fourth quarter before Gasol keyed the decisive surge.

Consecutive baskets by Richard Jefferson cut the Lakers’ lead to 84-81 with 6:13 remaining before Gasol pulled down the rebound of Bryant’s missed jumper and put it back while being fouled. His three-point play made it a six-point game and kicked off an 11-2 spurt, and he added another bucket off a feed from Bryant before Fisher capped it with a layup to make it 95-83 with under 3 minutes to play.

Despite having just one practice and one shootaround with the Lakers, Gasol was in the starting lineup and received a loud ovation when he was announced during introductions.

The center from Spain was acquired last Friday in a deal with Memphis that Gasol said even surprised him. The Lakers sent Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, two first-round picks and the draft rights to Marc Gasol, Pau’s brother, to the Grizzlies in a move that could turn the Lakers into one of the Western Conference favorites.

“I’m starting to realize how big the Lakers are around the country and around the world,” Gasol said before the game. “I had a little bit of a feel when they coming (into Memphis) because I see more Lakers jerseys than Grizzlies jerseys in the stands. But that happens everywhere.”

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