Kobe Bryant scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the first half, but the Los Angeles Lakers trail the Portland Trail Blazers at halftime, 62-57 at the Rose Garden. The Lakers are just 4-17 in their last 21 regular season games in Portland, dating back to 2000, and have lost their last two.
Steve Nash had four assists and two points, but left the game late in the half after bumping knees with Damian Lillard. Nash limped to the locker room under his own power.
Bryant made three of his five shots from three-point range. In six quarters this season Bryant is shooting 73.9% (17-for-23) from the field. The Lakers trailed 30-26 after one quarter.
Dwight Howard led the Lakers in the opening half with 17 points, including 11-for-14 from the free throw line, a stark improvement from making three of 14 from the charity stripe in the Lakers' opening night loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
Pau Gasol, who scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Tuesday night, scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in the first half for the Lakers on 4-for-9 shooting.
The Blazers were led in the first half by Nicolas Batum, who scored 19 points and grabbed four rebounds.
The Lakers shot 52.9% (18-for-34) in the first half, including 5-for-10 from three-point range.