Bynum scores 27, Lakers roll over Pacers
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Andrew Bynum scored a season-high 27 points and Kobe Bryant finished with 29 as the Los Angeles Lakers turned up the heat in the second half to beat Indiana 118-96.
Bryant scored 19 points in the second half for the Lakers who moved to 3-2 in their current eight game road trip. Bryant also had nine rebounds and seven assists.
Bynum (pictured) shot 12-of-14 from the field and had 12 rebounds while Pau Gasol chipped in 21 points and 13 rebounds and Lamar Odom finished with 12 and 14 on Wednesday.
"There are a few guys on this team, Andrew is one of them, that has All-Star caliber potential," Gasol said. "He would get my vote, absolutely. Right now, Andrew is definitely one of the top centers in the league."
The Lakers outrebounded the Pacers 62-42 and outscored them in the paint 54-32.
Roy Hibbert shot 10-of-18 and had 21 points to lead the Pacers. Troy Murphy scored 18 points and Danny Granger finished with 14 in Indiana's fifth loss in seven games.
Indiana played in front of just their fourth sellout crowd of the year but at times it didn't seem like it as the crowd chanted M-V-P for Bryant.
"Kobe's been in the league so long and he's accomplished so much as a player, when you reach that status as a player, you have a following," Pacers forward Granger said. "I think of it the same way Michael Jordan had and LeBron will have."
Bryant said Laker fans are everywhere.
"It just means the home team is struggling and there's a lot of Lakers fans in the building," he said. "It feels good to hear a response like that, and you definitely appreciate it."
Odom nailed a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give the Lakers a 59-56 lead.
Derek Fisher connected on another a three-point play in the opening minute of the second half. Bryant hit a three-pointer then Gasol dunked, was fouled, and converted the three-point play to give the Lakers a 10-point lead.
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