KOBE BRYANT The Lakers' scoring star shook off a 2-of-12 start to rack up 26 points with six assists and three steals.

DANNY GRANGER “It’s rough. We were two games above .500, and next thing you know we’re three below. And now we have a tough stretch coming up playing against all of these West Coast teams and we have to get it together.”

Points in the paint: Lakers 34, Pacers 32 Fast-break points: Lakers 12, Pacers 11 Second-chance points: Pacers 22, Lakers 13 Points off turnovers: Lakers 22, Pacers 16 Starters scoring: Lakers 94, Pacers 60 Bench scoring: Pacers 36, Lakers 18

The Pacers dropped to 7-16 in games when Danny Granger, who totaled 14, scores fewer than 20 points.

The second stop on this five-game Western Conference road trip comes Tuesday in Utah against Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and the Jazz (9 p.m., FSN-Indiana, WFNI 1070-AM).

Postgame quotes Plus-minus rankings Game info

L.A. LAKERS 112, INDIANA 96
Pacers' late rally falls short

At Los Angeles | Jan. 6, 2008

A 13-2 run against a lineup of Lakers reserves early in the fourth quarter cut what had been an 18-point deficit to 92-85 on Mike Dunleavy's 3-pointer with 6:17 remaining. But Coach Phil Jackson called a timeout, returned his starting lineup to the game, and the Lakers promptly responded with a 16-point run to quell Indiana's rally and seal a 112-96 victory Sunday in Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant hit two quick jumpers to start the run and Derek Fisher filled it out with a trio of 3-point shots that pushed the Lakers to a 108-85 advantage as the Pacers went more than four minutes without scoring.

"We had a chance to cut it to four with an open three but we couldn’t get over the hump, then they brought their starters back in," said Pacers Coach Jim O'Brien. "We had difficulty with their starting lineup the entire night.”

The Pacers (16-19) started a five-game Western Conference road trip with their fifth straight road loss, and their 12th in a row to the Lakers in Staples Center dating back to 1999. The Lakers (21-11) won for the sixth time in seven games.

Mike Dunleavy scored 17 points with five rebounds and four steals to lead the Pacers, who shot just .372 from the field in the second half and committed 22 turnovers. Danny Granger scored 14, Jermaine O'Neal 13 with four rebounds and Kareem Rush 12. Indiana's starting lineup was outscored 94-60.

All five Lakers starters scored in double figures, led by Bryant's 26. He started slowly, missing 10 of his first 12 shots, but heated up in the second half. Impressive young center Andrew Bynum continued his emergence with 23 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots and veteran point guard Derek Fisher scored 22.

“My hat is off to (Lakers general manager) Mitch Kupchak for not making a move, he saw what he had," said O'Brien, referring to offseason trade rumors involving Bynum. "He is just a terrific talent and a huge presence inside. You can’t guard Kobe one-on-one and when you hold someone or bring someone over to help they just drive to the front of the rim and he seemed like he’s eight feet tall to me tonight. His development is a credit to him, their staff and the whole organization.”

The Pacers started well, scoring the first nine points and jumping out to a 14-4 lead but things devolved quickly as Bynum took over. He scored 12 as the Lakers went on a 31-9 run to take a 35-23 lead early in the second quarter. With Jeff Foster providing needed energy and offensive rebounding, the Pacers chipped away to tie it three times in the second period and trailed just 55-53 at the break despite 21 points from Bynum.

Bryant and Lamar Odom, who combined for three baskets in the first half, heated up in the third period, combining for 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting as the Lakers exploded for an 19-5 run to stretch the lead to 82-64. The Lakers led 90-72 entering the fourth.