Tuesday’s game against the Trail Blazers is the first of a set of back-to-backs with Portland and the LA Clippers. This is the fourth time in the last five seasons (except for the 2007-08 season) that the Lakers have opened the year with back-to-back games. This year, the Lakers will play 19 sets of back-to-back games during the 2008-09 regular season after having played 17 sets of back-to-backs in each of the previous two seasons.
Kobe Bryant had 16 points and eight rebounds, the Lakers center Andrew Bynum added 12 points and nine rebounds, and the Lakers spoiled the Clippers season opener with a 117-79 rout Wednesday night.The Lakers began their season with a similar blowout one night earlier, breezing to a 96-76 win at home against Portland on Tuesday. As they did against the Trail Blazers, the Lakers got deep and balanced scoring and played scrappy defense. They held the Clippers to 38 percent shooting while shooting 51 percent themselves.
Derek Fisher scored 15 in the victory, including going 3-of-6 as the Lakers finished 10-of-19 from 3-point range. Pau Gasol also added 13 points, Jordan Farmar 15, and Trevor Ariza had 11 points while going up for six strong rebounds.
Bynum's second game was much better than the season opener shooting 4-of-7 from the floor and helped jam up the middle on defense, while blocking three shots.
Derek Fisher scored 15 in the victory, including going 3-of-6 as the Lakers finished 10-of-19 from 3-point range. Pau Gasol also added 13 points, Jordan Farmar 15, and Trevor Ariza had 11 points while going up for six strong rebounds.
Bynum's second game was much better than the season opener shooting 4-of-7 from the floor and helped jam up the middle on defense, while blocking three shots.
The new-look Clippers looked essentially like their usual sub .500 selves, no match for the talent and versatility of the defending Western Conference champion Lakers. Baron Davis had 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting in his Clippers' debut, with seven assists. Al Thornton scored 16, and Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas each had 11. The Clippers, who lost longtime mainstay Elton Brand and Corey Maggette among others during the offseason, have nine newcomers who played for other teams last season. Davis played just one preseason game because of a finger injury, and another new addition, Marcus Camby, is out with a bruised right heel.
Baron Davis commented to ESPN on playing his first game with the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night. 
"They are a championship team. They know what they are trying to accomplish and we are still trying to figure it out. I didn’t think tonight’s game was going to happen like this, but it is a rude awakening for us. The Lakers are a machine, and were still trying to put the pieces together. It is a mountain we have to climb and it is not going to happen overnight."
On the Clippers' chemistry..."We are just new to each other, everything is different. I think we learned a lesson tonight. It just seemed that we hit a brick wall and we didn’t know where to go."
Down 33-32, the Lakers got some spark from the reserves and reeled off a 24-6 string beginning with Farmar's running jumper with 8:18 remaining in the second quarter. Ariza scored eight points during the run and Farmar had five points, three assists and a rebound. That helped the Lakers open a 56-39 lead with 1:06 remaining and they were up 59-44 at halftime. They outscored the Clippers 26-13 in the third quarter and were up 85-57 heading into the final 12 minutes.
Side Note: Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said before the game that he thinks the Lakers may be the best in the league. "Defensively they should be one of the top three teams and then they've got Kobe Bryant at the end of the game to cancel all bets,'' Dunleavy said. "If I'm picking, that's who I'm picking to win it all if they're healthy.'' ... The Clippers finished 23-59 last season while the Lakers kept going until they lost to Boston in the NBA finals. ... The Lakers went 4-0 against the Clippers last season, winning by an average of 26 points.
Fun Fact: Since moving to Los Angeles prior to the 1960-61 season, the Lakers are 32-16 in ROAD OPENERS (first road game of the year) after last season’s November 2 victory at Phoenix. In their last 12 road openers, the Lakers are 10-2 and have won their last three straight overall. This will be the third time the Lakers have opened their road schedule against the Clippers with the previous two meetings resulting in victories: 103-102 win at San Diego(10/12/79) and 114-102 OT win at LA Clippers 11/6/92 (both games were season openers for the Lakers as well).
"They are a championship team. They know what they are trying to accomplish and we are still trying to figure it out. I didn’t think tonight’s game was going to happen like this, but it is a rude awakening for us. The Lakers are a machine, and were still trying to put the pieces together. It is a mountain we have to climb and it is not going to happen overnight."On the Clippers' chemistry..."We are just new to each other, everything is different. I think we learned a lesson tonight. It just seemed that we hit a brick wall and we didn’t know where to go."
Down 33-32, the Lakers got some spark from the reserves and reeled off a 24-6 string beginning with Farmar's running jumper with 8:18 remaining in the second quarter. Ariza scored eight points during the run and Farmar had five points, three assists and a rebound. That helped the Lakers open a 56-39 lead with 1:06 remaining and they were up 59-44 at halftime. They outscored the Clippers 26-13 in the third quarter and were up 85-57 heading into the final 12 minutes.
Side Note: Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said before the game that he thinks the Lakers may be the best in the league. "Defensively they should be one of the top three teams and then they've got Kobe Bryant at the end of the game to cancel all bets,'' Dunleavy said. "If I'm picking, that's who I'm picking to win it all if they're healthy.'' ... The Clippers finished 23-59 last season while the Lakers kept going until they lost to Boston in the NBA finals. ... The Lakers went 4-0 against the Clippers last season, winning by an average of 26 points.
Fun Fact: Since moving to Los Angeles prior to the 1960-61 season, the Lakers are 32-16 in ROAD OPENERS (first road game of the year) after last season’s November 2 victory at Phoenix. In their last 12 road openers, the Lakers are 10-2 and have won their last three straight overall. This will be the third time the Lakers have opened their road schedule against the Clippers with the previous two meetings resulting in victories: 103-102 win at San Diego(10/12/79) and 114-102 OT win at LA Clippers 11/6/92 (both games were season openers for the Lakers as well).
NEXT MATCH UP: Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets Saturday November 1st 6:00 pm (PST)
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