BALANCE, TEAMWORK KEY LAKERS' VICTORY BRYANT, ODOM PRAISE TEAMMATES LAKERS 97, CLIPPERS 88.

Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff Writer

Kobe Bryant didn't need 52 points, like he scored two nights earlier. He didn't need 40 points, like he scored in the Lakers' previous meeting with the Clippers.

Saturday night, he scored 29 points, but more important for the Lakers, his teammates made key contributions to beat the Clippers 97-88 at Staples Center.

All eleven Lakers who played scored.

When Bryant sat to rest and Lamar Odom was out because of foul trouble at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the other Lakers turned a seven-point lead into an 80-68 advantage with 8:37 left and forced the Clippers to call a timeout.

Former Clipper Vladimir Radmanovic had five of his 10 points in that 7-2 key stretch that put the Lakers up by as much as had been all night. Maurice Evans chipped in a bucket as did Jordan Farmar.

``That's what a team is about,'' Radmanovic said. ``We all have to be aware that we can't only rely on two guys. They do a great job, but we all have to step up and take a game over sometimes. Tonight, we did a pretty good job, and hopefully, we're going to continue with that.''

The Lakers improved to 4-0 in the Pacific Division and look much farther along than the Clippers, who fell below .500.

The Lakers have been criticized for being a one-man show starring Bryant, or a two-man show with Bryant and Odom. Both were pleased that the lineup without them thrived.

``That's a unit that we're going to need if we're going to make some noise this season,'' Bryant said. ``We're going to need them to step up and have moments like that.''

Saturday's victory may been their best team effort this season, though Odom said that type of play was evident in the previous victory.

``The game against Utah was a team win, but it just happens that Kobe goes for 30 points in one quarter,'' Odom said. ``But defensively and rebounding-wise, we played team basketball. And tonight was the same thing.''

In the past two seasons, the Lakers and Clippers split their season series. Saturday, the Lakers went up 2-0 in the series. The next meeting between the teams isn't until April.

The Clippers continue to look for any type of consistency. They had 18 turnovers, and the Lakers scored 28 points off of those miscues.

``Our turnovers were just way too costly,'' Dunleavy said. ``It was just too big to overcome. At times, we were just careless with the ball, as far as a couple situational plays where we weren't even under duress.''

Another problem for the Clippers was their failure to take advantage of their edge inside. Elton Brand had 17 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Clippers center Chris Kaman returned from an ankle injury to have eight points and 12 rebounds, but even with a solid statistical game from those two, the Lakers outscored them 44-34 in the paint.

Brand and Dunleavy are flabbergasted that the Clippers are missing a lot of easy shots, close to the baskets.

``We're looking for the refs to bail us out,'' Brand said. ``We're missing some chippies and some easy shots that I know will fall, so we just have to keep taking those shots.''

The Clippers may hate to lose to the Lakers, but right now, they're more concerned with trying to win consistently, like they did last year.

``We've lost some games here, and we have to get out of that funk,'' Brand said. ``Then, everything will take care of itself.''

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The Lakers' Luke Walton, top, scrambles for control of the ball against the Clippers' Elton Brand during the first half.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News