LAKERS NOTEBOOK: BLOWOUTS GETTING IN WAY OF HISTORY.

Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO -- How different might the NBA record books be if Kobe Bryant didn't get stuck reaching 50 points by the third quarter of so many blowout games?

Bryant's 52-point game Thursday against Utah was just the latest example. He reached the mark by the end of the third quarter, with the Lakers leading 95-73, and returned for 3:23 of the fourth quarter with instructions to simply run the offense.

It was the 12th 50-point game of his career as well as the fifth time Bryant had done so in only three quarters. He had 62 points through threequarters and did not come back in the fourth last December against Dallas.

Bryant also had 56 points in three quarters against Memphis in January 2002 and 51points in three quarters against Denver in February2003. He did not play the fourth quarter in either of those games.

He had 50 points after threequarters of a March 2003 game against Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards and sat out the first six minutes of the fourth quarter before returning. Bryant finished with 55 points.

The one time Bryant's scoring was needed in the fourthquarter of such a game came when he had 53 points in three quarters against the Toronto Raptors in January.

The Lakers led only 91-85 heading into the fourth quarter. Bryant went on to score 28points in the final period to finish with 81, the second- highest total in NBA history after Wilt Chamberlain's immortal 100-point game in March 1962.

``It's just funny that when I have games like that, they tend to be blowouts,'' Bryant said Friday, ``which says that me going off like that energizes us as a ballclub and deflates our opposition, because we wind up just running them over.''

Only five players -- Chamberlain, Bryant, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor and David Robinson -- have scored 70points in a game.

Chamberlain did it fivetimes in his career.

Bryant finished 19 of 26 (73.1 percent) from the field in what was the second-best shooting game of his career. He made 20 of 26 shots (76.9percent) in a December 2000 victory over the Houston Rockets.

After his 81-point game, Bryant said he took note of opposing teams being ``on edge'' with every game he played thereafter. He was asked if he expected the similar double-teams and defensive attention after Thursday's game.

``We have such a balanced attack this season. It's a little different,'' Bryant said. ``Lastyear, when I went on that run, we weren't quite established yet.

``Now we have a well- rounded attack with guys that can shoot the ball and have confidence in themselves. It'll be interesting to see what (other teams) do.''

Lakers coach Phil Jackson was happy to see that Bryant's scoring was not a solo act. The Lakers scored 132 points -- 80 of which did not come from Bryant -- and shot 60 percent.

Measured game: Talking about forward Lamar Odom before Sunday's game, Jackson noted, ``I always kind of measure Lamar from the Clippers situation,'' referring to the games Odom plays against the team with which he started his NBA career.

Odom had 18 points but shot 6 of 18 in the Lakers' victory over the Clippers on Nov. 21. The two teams will play again tonight in what will be a Clippers home game.

``I think sometimes P.J. and Brian Shaw say I play a little too emotional against them,'' Odom said. ``I don't know. I just try to go out there and compete hard and hopefully I can do the same thing.''

Also: The Lakers are 1-3 on the road this season, with Jackson saying a victory in front of a Clippers crowd would be a positive step.

``It's definitely a road game,'' Jackson said. ``There's definitely a different feel to the building.''

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LAKERS VS. CLIPPERS

- Ross Siler