LAKERS WORK OT FOR WIN FOURTH-QUARTER RALLY HELPS THEM BEAT WARRIORS LAKERS 106, GOLDEN STATE 105.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

All Kobe Bryant had to do Friday night was follow up his 81-point game with another one, enough for him to record the highest scoring two-game performance in NBA history and live up to the expectations that awaited at Staples Center.

After all, Wilt Chamberlain preceded his 100-point game 44 years ago in Hershey, Pa., with a 61-point effort. And Bryant had left the city buzzing for four days about what he would do next.

What the Lakers needed more than another Bryant scoring show, however, was a victory over the Golden State Warriors. They had to settle for a stirring fourth quarter from Bryant, and his two free throws in the final seconds of regulation helped tie the score and send the game into overtime tied at 94, and the Lakers went on to win in overtime, 106-105.

Bryant didn't hit a shot in the second and third quarters and had to bring the Lakers back in the fourth. He totaled 15 points in the fourth period and sank the needed free throws in the final minutes.

Bryant also played solid defense on Warriors guard Baron Davis on the final play of regulation, forcing Davis to toss up an impossible shot from the right side at the buzzer.

The Lakers went from eight points up to seven points down and were outscored 26-11 in the turnover-filled third quarter. Forward Lamar Odom had four turnovers in the third quarter alone. Davis drilled a huge 3-pointer for the Warriors with 2 1/2 minutes left, stepping back off an inbounds pass and connecting over Smush Parker from the corner.

Bryant had a critical turnover with 57.2 seconds left, stepping out of bounds as he tried to drive on rookie guard Monta Ellis. The Warriors got back the ball and Pietrus came up with a big offensive rebound after Davis missed a jumper.

Golden State took the clock inside the final 20 seconds but Derek Fisher was called for a charge as Devean George - his teammate on three Lakers championship teams - stepped up in the lane with 12.8 seconds remaining.

That set up a final possession with a chance to tie for the Lakers. Instead of having Bryant fire from the outside over multiple defenders, Lakers coach Phil Jackson diagramed a play to have Odom try to find the superstar guard cutting to the basket.

Bryant was fouled on the play and sank two free throws to even the score 94-94 with 7.1 seconds left. The Warriors had a chance to win but Davis couldn't find an open shot against Bryant.

Bryant had missed eight consecutive shots when he finally got one to drop, pulling up in the lane in transition and pushing in a shot over center Andris Biedrins. He connected on a transition jumper the next time down court and the Lakers were back in business.

The third quarter has been a problem all season and Friday was no different for the Lakers, who watched the Warriors erase their 55-47 halftime lead with a 13-0 run. The Lakers missed their first six shots of the quarter and committed six turnovers.

Whether they were waiting for Bryant to take over or not, the Lakers played one of their worst quarters of the season. Smush Parker threw a lazy pass to Bryant on the wing that rookie guard Monta Ellis picked off and breezed the other way for a dunk.

Bryant missed all seven shots he took in the second and third quarters. He had five points on 2-for-12 shooting entering the fourth. Bryant lit up the Warriors for 38 points when he played them two weeks ago.

The Lakers will leave today on a seven-game trip, their longest of the season, which begins Sunday at Detroit. They will play three sets of back-to-back games on the trip but can be encouraged by their 5-1 trip in December.

If they needed any reminder about Bryant's 81-point game, the Lakers got it when they walked into the locker room. The Lakers printed commemorative T-shirts for sale with Bryant's picture on the front, one of which was waiting on every player's chair.

Jackson told reporters a story he also had told his players earlier in the season about a session between famed jazz musicians John Coltrane and Miles Davis in which Coltrane once went off on a 25-minute solo.

``He apologized to Miles after it was over and he said, 'I don't know, I just picked it up and it just kept playing,' '' Jackson said, ``and Miles Davis said, 'Put the blankety thing down. You've got to stop.

``I said shooting is like that. It's addictive.''

Public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter, a jazz enthusiast, offered reporters in the press room a little perspective on Coltrane during that period. ``He had a voice,'' Tanter said. ``He had to be heard.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Lakers' Kobe Bryant goes up for a reverse layup past Golden State's Adonal Foyle during Friday's game.

(2) Kobe Bryant points to a teammate while being guarded by the Warriors' Derek Fisher during Friday's game.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

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