KOBE HAS CLIPS IN WEB BRYANT'S TRIPLE-DOUBLE GIVES LAKERS FIRST WIN OF SEASON LAKERS 108, CLIPPERS 93.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

On the day a story circulated on the Internet about Kobe Bryant being a selfish player, the Lakers' superstar turned in one of the most unselfish and best statistical performances of his career.

Bryant had a triple-double after only three quarters Friday and finished with 33 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists to notch his fourth career triple-double as the Lakers defeated the Clippers 108-93 in front of 20,474 at Staples Center, the biggest crowd for any Lakers or Clippers game.

``This is the style of basketball I want to play all year,'' Bryant said. ``I really want to play unselfish and share the ball with my teammates.''

Bryant tore apart the Clippers, who still look as though they're trying to find themselves. His 15 rebounds were a career high. He shot 12 of 18 and helped five of his teammates score in double figures.

A mini-media circus had swirled earlier in the day because of a story on ESPN.com that claimed Bryant was a selfish player and ``uncoachable.'' Bryant might have used that as motivation, but that's not what he said got him to repeatedly find the open man against the Clippers.

``The motivation was to win,'' Bryant said.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson proved himself wrong, considering he said his team could start the season 0-7. Like almost everybody else at Staples Center on Friday, he was impressed by Bryant.

So was it the best game of Bryant's career?

``No, he's played a lot of great games,'' Jackson said. ``But for this year, yes.''

Bryant did much more than rebound and pass and rack up big numbers. He drew double-teams, found the open man and quickly deflated the drama in this Staples Center rivalry.

It was the Lakers' first victory this season and seemed just like old times. Historically, the Lakers have made a mockery of their roommates, winning 16 consecutive games against the Clippers from April 1997 until January 2001.

It was pretty much a blowout from the start. Bryant had 12 points in the first quarter and the Lakers had a 34-20 lead. From there, they led by double digits until the third quarter, when the Clippers had an 11-2 run to pull within 74-67.

But the Lakers finished the third on an 11-6 run to make it 85-73 entering the final quarter.

After that, it was a blowout until the Clippers made one last gasp with an 11-0 run to pull within 98-89 with 3:41 left. But Devean George made a 3-point shot with 3:03 left to kill the rally.

``I was hoping that killed their momentum,'' George said. ``The crowd started to pull for them. Then, obviously, the shot killed their momentum.''

Six Lakers scored in double figures, and George's 13 points were second most to Bryant's.

For the Clippers (0-2), Elton Brand recovered from his zero-point performance in the opener with 19 points and 12 rebounds. For the second consecutive game, Andre Miller had a double-double, with 22 points and 11 assists. But the Clippers were out of sync the entire night.

``We've got to find a way to get everyone on the same page and start playing together,'' Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. ``I don't think it's anybody's fault because I think every guy in that locker room wants to win. We just can't seem to get in any kind of rhythm right now.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Kobe Bryant (8) had 33 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists Friday for his fourth career triple-double.

(2) The Lakers' Derek Fisher (2) drives to the basket against the Clippers' Andre Miller at Staples Center.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

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GAME RECAP