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Bryant, Lakers open trek against Pistons

Mar 6, 2012 - 3:55 PM (Sports Network) - The Lone Ranger, Zorro and now Kobe Bryant have all achieved success by disguising their appearance.

Granted Bryant's protective mask is clear, the Los Angeles Lakers star has been tearing it up in three games since breaking his nose and suffering a subsequent concussion in the All-Star Game. He will try to continue the hot stretch tonight against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Bryant has scored 30-plus points since the break, averaging 34.0 ppg over that stretch, and posted 33 points in Sunday's 93-83 victory over the Miami Heat in the finale of a perfect three-game homestand. Bryant scored 18 points in the opening quarter and was 14-of-23 from the floor, while Andrew Bynum added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has won eight of 10 games.

Metta World Peace had 17 points in a winning effort and supported his claim as a defensive stalwart.

"When I'm healthy I'm one of the best defenders ever," World Peace said after helping LA improve to 17-2 as the host. "The media will never tell you, but I've been one of the best defenders in the last decade."

The Lakers will begin a three-game road trip tonight against the Pistons, Wizards and Timberwolves, and are just 6-12 as the visitor.

Detroit will play three in a row at The Palace versus the Lakers, Hawks and Raptors, and is 9-11 as the host.

The Pistons have dropped four of five games, including Saturday's 100-83 setback at Memphis in which Rodney Stuckey paced all scorers with 20 points and Greg Monroe contributed a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

"The first quarter and fourth quarter were completely different," Detroit head coach Lawrence Frank said. "Especially against a playoff-tested team like that, the last six minutes of the fourth quarter are always more intense, harder, tougher, and everything you do has to be more precise. They were able to raise it another notch and we just couldn't meet it tonight."

Brandon Knight and Tayshaun Prince finished with 15 and 13 points, respectively, in a losing cause. Stuckey is averaging 20.2 points in his last nine games and Monroe owns averages of 19.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in his previous six contests. Monroe is one of only 11 players averaging a double- double in the NBA this season (16.7 pts, 10.1 rebs).

Prince needs three more games for 700 in his career.

The Pistons are just 3-8 against the West this season and will play the Lakers in the only meeting of the season. Los Angeles swept a home-and-home series a year ago and has won five straight in the series. The Lakers have won three straight and 12 of their last 18 as the guest in this series.

Bryant averaged 25.0 ppg against Detroit last year. In 27 career games, including 23 starts against the Pistons, Bryant is averaging 23.8 ppg.