A GRIZZLY SIGHT FOR LAKERS L.A. UNABLE TO FIND BASKET IN DEFEAT MEMPHIS 82, LAKERS 72.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

In these uncertain times for the Lakers, even once solid ground is suddenly shaky.

For the first time in franchise history, the Lakers lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles, falling 82-72 at Staples Center on Monday night amid a slew of missed shots, bad calls and delinquent rebounding.

Kobe Bryant managed just 11 points and the Lakers blew a 10-point second-quarter lead. The crowd headed for the exits with two minutes left, and whatever hope that Lakers had built over the past eight weeks vanished with them.

Whether the Grizzlies called Memphis or Vancouver home, the Lakers never had lost to them in 19 games in Los Angeles before Monday. The streak dated to the Grizzlies' inaugural season in 1995-96 but came to a crashing end.

The Lakers (13-11) shot 31.9 from the field, scored a season-low points and were booed off the floor. Their longest winning streak of the season stands at two, with Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat due to arrive five days from now.

Memphis' Shane Battier led all scorers with 17 points. Caron Butler had 16 and Lamar Odom added 14 for the Lakers, who saw Bryant finish as only their fourth-leading scorer on the night.

By the time Odom stepped to the foul line with 7:30 remaining, the Lakers had missed four consecutive shots. And Odom didn't help matters, bricking both free throws as the sellout crowd groaned.

At the other end, Pau Gasol threw a lob pass over his shoulder that Stromile Swift dunked to make it 73-66. On the Grizzlies' next possession, 6-foot-1 Earl Watson, who played in college at UCLA, managed to sneak in and grab an offensive rebound.

The Lakers suffered from calls going against them, none greater than with 3:21 left. Odom was called for his fifth foul as Gasol spun the baseline, and the referees sent Gasol to the line for two free throws, even though he was not in the act of shooting.

Odom swatted his hand in disgust. After Gasol made both free throws, Odom spiked the ball off the basket riser before inbounding it. Bryant missed on a drive for the Lakers and Mike Miller drove for a layup to make it 79-71 in favor of Memphis.

The Lakers were unable to come back and lost their second consecutive home game.

Their problems started with scoring only 15 points in an abysmal third quarter, their worst of the season. Bryant had to force two desperation 3-pointers with the shot clock expiring and the Lakers went 8 minutes, 14 seconds without a field goal.

Butler ended that streak with a one-handed dunk and three-point play with 19.9 seconds left in the quarter. But Memphis took a 69-63 lead into the fourth quarter as Battier nailed a 3-pointer from the sideline at the buzzer.

The Lakers were outscored 25-15 in the quarter and shot 29.4 percent. Gasol had five blocks alone in the third. Bryant was 0 for 4 in the quarter.

The Lakers were unable to avenge a 110-87 loss to Memphis on Nov. 10. It was the second-worst loss of the season and came on a night in which Bryant shot 4 of 19 and disclosed afterward he was suffering from plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

After missing a potential game-winning 3-pointer against the Washington Wizards on Friday, Butler was one of the few bright spots. He scored on a layup as the Lakers came back at Memphis after a basket and knocked down a jumper off a pass from Bryant.

When Bryant took a seat early in the second quarter, Butler hit a 3-pointer from the corner he missed from three nights earlier. Butler took a hand to the face from Watson later in the quarter fighting for a loose ball.

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Photo:

(color) Lakers center Chris Mihm is fouled by Grizzlies forward Shane Battier during Monday's game.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

Box:

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