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Lakers go for fourth consecutive win in rematch with Sonics

Nov 5, 2006 - 4:03 PM LA Lakers (3-0) at Seattle (0-2) 9:00 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers got off to a pretty good start without Kobe Bryant. Now that he is back, things are even brighter.

Last season's scoring champion, Bryant looks to lead the Lakers to their first 4-0 start in three years Sunday when they conclude their home-and-home series with the Seattle SuperSonics.

After averaging 35.4 points last season, Bryant was forced to miss the Lakers' first two games because of offseason knee surgery. Los Angeles responded with season-opening wins over the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors.

In his season debut on Friday, Bryant made 8-of-15 shots from the floor en route to 23 points and handed out six assists to lead the Lakers to a 118-112 victory over the SuperSonics.

Lamar Odom scored 28 points and Luke Walton added 20 for Los Angeles, which shot 55 percent (36-of-65), including 9-of-16 on 3-pointers. The Lakers are averaging 114 points in their first three contests.

Back home before opening a five-game East Coast road trip, Seattle allowed the Portland Trail Blazers to shoot nearly 55 percent (40-of-73) in Wednesday's season-opening 110-106 defeat.

Ray Allen scored 30 points and Rashard Lewis added 28 to lead six players in double figures against the Lakers on Friday.

The SuperSonics are hoping to avoid their first 0-3 start since 1985-1986.