LOS ANGELES -- Already down 0-2 in this young 2012-13 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers' woes continued Friday night when the star-studded franchise succumb to their in-city neighbors the L.A. Clippers, 105-95 at the Staples Center.
Kobe Bryant carried the Lakers with 40 points on 14-of-23 shooting. But it wasn't enough against the Clippers' onslaught.
Jamal Crawford darted off the bench and paced the Clips with 21 points while All-Star point guard Chris Paul finished with an MVP-type performance -- 18 points, 15 assists and six rebounds. Blake Griffin had the usual assortment of dunks and finished with 15 points and eight rebounds while Caron Butller and Eric Bledsoe chipped in 14 and 10 respectviely.
"We're hitting the panic button right now," Bryant said as his Lakers fell to 0-3, the team's worst start since 1978.
The Lakers shot the ball well, 34 of 68 from the field (50 percent) and 7-of-16 beyond the 3-point line (43.8 percent) but they were hounded by 25 turnovers. Pau Gasol was solid with 10 points and 14 rebounds but Dwight Howard struggled with foul trouble all night and managed with just 13 points and eight rebounds. Metta World Peace and Steve Blake combined for 16. Steve Nash did not play due to a bruised lower left leg.
"We need a win, obviously. I'm not fooling anyone. That's why Kobe played the minutes that he did, which is to many," Lakers coach Mike Brown told NBA.com.
Kobe and company gun for their elusive first against the visiting Detroit Pistons Sunday night at the Staples Center. (Jose Roberto Meza)
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