Lakers 3-0 in Kobe’s Return

The Los Angeles Times:Kobe Bryant was back and the Lakers were, well, already there.

The points continued to come easily. Ronny Turiaf continued his unpredictably strong start. And Bryant, new to the fray after nearly 17 weeks of rest and rehabilitation, was a happy passenger on a rousing ride in a very young season.

In case you don’t recognize them and their push-the-ball pace, that was the Lakers beating another team, the Seattle SuperSonics, 118-112, Friday at Staples Center.

There were moments of concern for the Lakers — quite a few, actually, after they blew a 20-point lead built in the first quarter— but the numbers were hard to ignore: three games, 342 points, and Bryant still working his way back into shape.

And again, there was another new last-minute chant at Staples Center — neither “Ko-be” nor “O-dom” but, rather, “Ro-nny,” after Turiaf secured a defensive rebound with 55 seconds left, was fouled, and made two free throws to provide a 111-107 lead. He then blocked an attempted dunk by Chris Wilcox and a follow-up attempt by Rashard Lewis on the next possession.

Lamar Odom had averaged 28 points, 11 rebounds and 7.5 assists in two games without Bryant. He had 28 points on seven-for-12 shooting, six assists and four rebounds against Seattle.

The Lakers, 3-0, lead the league in points a game and, more important, surprising victories, even those that aren’t always cosmetically attractive.

“We were flirting with letting prosperity go early in the game,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. “The first couple games we had really good energy and were able to use the energy in the second half to overwhelm opponents. It became kind of a slugfest out there.”

Call it the Lakers, winners by a technical knockout.

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