Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Andrew Bynum had a breakout game with a career-high 42 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant posted a triple-double as the Lakers topped the Clippers, 108-97, and beat their inner-city rival for a seventh straight time.
Bynum shot 17-of-24 from the floor and had three blocks as the Lakers won their second in a row following back-to-back defeats. Bryant finished with 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, but his performance was overshadowed by the power from the 21-year-old Bynum, who had eight offensive rebounds and helped the Lakers to a Western Conference-best 33-8 mark at the halfway point of the season.
"It feels very good to go out there and play the way I did," said Bynum. "I got a lot of touches. Their team was undermanned tonight and I got a lot of easy baskets."
Lamar Odom contributed 19 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who had 70 points in the paint and sent the Clippers to their 14th loss in 15 games.
DeAndre Jordan had a career-best 23 points, pulled down 12 boards and had four blocks for the Clippers, who were outrebounded, 46-26. Al Thornton ended with 20 points in defeat.
"I was pleased with our guys' effort," said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy. "The big difference was their size against us. We couldn't get it taken care of."
Eric Gordon's layup had the Clippers within 71-66 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter, but Bynum then converted a three-point play, Odom hit a layup and Bynum scored from in close again for a 12-point difference.
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Derek Fisher's layup near the end of the third had the Lakers ahead 88-73, but the Clippers made one last push in the fourth. Thornton's running shot capped nine straight points for the Clippers, getting them within 102-95 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining. Bryant then hit a short shot and Bynum jammed with just over a minute remaining.
The Clippers scored the final nine points of the opening quarter to grab a 27-25 edge.
Steve Novak hit a pair of three-pointers in the opening minute of the second, but the Lakers started to wear down the host team and took a 58-55 lead at the half thanks in part to a three-pointer from Sasha Vujacic in the final minute.
