Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and Andrew Bynum added a season-high 27 to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers 118-96 on Wednesday night.
Bryant also had nine rebounds and seven assists, and Bynum had 12 rebounds. Pau Gasol had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Lamar Odom added 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who won at Washington on Tuesday.
Roy Hibbert scored 21 points, Troy Murphy scored 18, Danny Granger had 14 and Brandon Rush added 13 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana.
The Lakers set a season rebounding high, outrebounding the Pacers 62-42.
The Pacers played in front of just their fourth sellout crowd of the year, and much of it chanted M-V-P for Bryant on several occasions.
Odom hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give the Lakers a 59-56 lead. Bynum scored 22 points on 10 for 12 shooting before the break.
Derek Fisher connected on a 3-point play in the first minute of the second half. Bryant hit a 3-pointer, then Gasol dunked, was fouled and converted the three-point play to give the Lakers a 10-point lead.
Another 3-pointer by Bryant was met with M-V-P chants and gave the Lakers a 76-65 edge. Los Angeles kept the pressure on and led 92-78 at the end of the quarter.
The Pacers shot just 35 percent in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers led by at least nine points the entire period.
Notes: Pacers F Tyler Hansbrough sat out with an inner ear infection. … Lakers F Ron Artest, a former Pacer, made a layup on the game’s first offensive possession for his only points of the game. … Bynum scored 10 points in the first four minutes. … Indianapolis Colts players Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Matt Stover received a standing ovation when their presence was announced.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, right, drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Brandon Rush during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) goes to the basket against Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood (33) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, in Washington. The Lakers won 115-103. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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