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Bryant, Lakers ready for shorthanded Clippers

Oct 29, 2008 - 10:15 AM LA Lakers (1-0) at LA Clippers 10:30 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers picked up where they left off.

Bryant and the Lakers try to build off the momentum of a season-opening rout when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

The reigning NBA MVP scored a game-high 23 points and added 11 rebounds and five assists, leading Los Angeles to a 96-76 romp over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. It was his first extensive action since hyper-extending his right knee during a preseason game against the Charlotte Bobcats a week earlier.

The Lakers, who were ousted by the Boston Celtics in six games during the NBA Finals, played solid defense, holding the Trail Blazers to 34 percent (29-of-84) shooting.

Los Angeles needs to duplicate that performance against the Clippers and Baron Davis, who signed a five-year, $65 million contract as a free agent in July but is listed as questionable for the team's season opener.

Davis has been slowed by a partial tear of a ligament in his left ring finger, which forced him to miss the last seven preseason games.

Fellow offseason acquisition Marcus Camby and forward Tim Thomas seem unlikely to play against the Lakers.

Thomas has been limited by a groin injury while Camby missed the entire preseason with a bruised heel.