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Odom, Bryant help Lakers beat undermanned Pistons

Nov 17, 2007 - 8:09 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant didn't have his "A" game, but the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers picked up the slack, especially Lamar Odom.

Odom collected season highs of 25 points and 15 rebounds as the Lakers posted a 103-91 triumph over the shorthanded Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Bryant, the reigning two-time scoring champion, finished with 19 points on just 6-of-18 shooting - his third lowest output of the season. He was only 2-of-14 in the first three quarters.

"We struggled for three and a half quarters, kind of a slow game for us but we stuck with it, persevered and came up with a big fourth quarter," Bryant said. "You just have to stick in the flow of the game. I mean I had some easy shots, they just didn't fall for me."

The Pistons grabbed a 74-72 lead as Richard Hamilton and Jarvis Hayes scored on consecutive possessions with slightly over eight minutes remaining.

The Lakers' reserves sparked an aggressive 11-2 run, capped by Bryant's 3-pointer at the 5:37 mark. But Rasheed Wallace hit a shot from the arc and Hamilton drilled a 14-footer as Detroit closed within 83-81 one minute later.

However, the Lakers pulled away for good behind a commanding 14-4 surge, highlighted by 3-pointers from Bryant, Odom and Jordan Farmar.

"We got stops (in the fourth quarter) and it made it tough for them to score," Farmar said. "We got key rebounds and steals that got us out on the lead in transition and got easy buckets."

It was just Odom's fourth game back after recovering from offseason surgery.

"I feel good. I still get a little fatigued," Odom said. "This game was definitely a confidence booster. We know we could play well, a little bit better than the San Antonio game. Hopefully, we can just keep the momentum going."

Tayshaun Prince had 16 points and nine rebound and Hamilton also scored 16 for the Pistons, who were without starters Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess for the second straight game.

"With Chauncey and McDyess out, we have some young guys out there that play great for us," Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter said. "But there will always be some little things (that go wrong)."

"It's tough (without McDyess and Billups) because now we are shorthanded," Detroit guard Flip Murray said. "Some guys have to play a lot of minutes because we don't have a backup at some positions."

Detroit trailed, 60-57, with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter before taking the lead heading into the decisive period behind an 11-2 surge, capped by Murray's runner with 36 seconds left.