Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) drives the ball around Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Johnson as Lakers coach Byron Scott watches at right during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in New York. AP
NEW YORK — Kobe Bryant scored 18 points, his highest performance since opening night, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the winless Brooklyn Nets 104-98 on Friday night for their first victory of the season.
Rookie D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson each scored 16 points for the Lakers (1-4), while the Nets dropped to 0-6.
The Lakers’ 11-point lead was down to three in the final half-minute but they forced a 5-second violation on an inbounds pass. Bryant then made four straight free throws for a 102-95 lead while receiving loud cheers, as he did all night.
Brook Lopez had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, while Joe Johnson scored 22 points.
Russell, the No. 2 pick in the draft, had the highest-scoring game of his career but wasn’t on the court down the stretch, with Lakers coach Byron Scott turning to veteran point guard Lou Williams to help close it out.
Bryant came in averaging 15.8 points and in a horrendous shooting slump in his 20th season while trying to regain his timing after missing much of the preseason with a leg injury. He still shot poorly, going 5 for 16, but only his 24 points against Minnesota on Oct. 28 were better than this.
Bryant missed his first six shots and started 1 for 8, dropping him to 21 for 70 on the season, an even 30 percent. But he bounced back with 12 points in the second quarter, making his final two shots and walking off at halftime nodding his head with the Lakers leading 52-47.
But it was backup Nick Young who gave the Lakers just enough of a comfortable cushion, making two 3-pointers and another basket in a fourth-quarter flurry that gave Los Angeles an 11-point lead with 7 minutes to go.
The play certainly wasn’t stellar but it was definitely spirited, just as Scott predicted from the winless teams before the game.
“I think both teams at this particular point should be in that desperate mode. Go out there and you’ve got to play like this is almost a Game 7,” Scott said. “I mean there’s no other way to look at it and we’ll see what happens.”
TIP-INS
Lakers: The Lakers began a five-game road trip and a stretch where they play 16 of 20 on the road. At least the next one is an easy trip: They visit the New York Knicks on Sundayand their hotel is close to Madison Square Garden.
Nets: Rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made his first career start and grabbed 11 rebounds. … The Nets announced they had purchased an NBA Development League affiliate. The Long Island Nets will play next season in Barclays Center before moving to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
HEY BIG SPENDERS!
The NBA’s two highest-paid players this season were guarding each other. Bryant is making $25 million and Johnson is just behind him at $24.9 million.
GIVING PEACE A CHANCE
The Lakers gave Metta World Peace his first playing time this season. The New York native signed in September for his second stint with the team he helped lead to the 2010 NBA championship. He had three points and forced a big turnover in the fourth, leading to a basket by Young.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Visit New York on Sunday.
Nets: Visit Milwaukee on Saturday.