Notebook | Lakers' Bryant always proves a tough matchup

The most dangerous Kobe Bryant isn't the coldblooded assassin who dropped 81 points on the Toronto Raptors, but rather the diplomatic leader who delegates and directs the Los Angeles Lakers' offense.

"I'd rather [face] the Kobe that goes for a big number but needs a lot of shots to do it," Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said before Monday's game. "The efficient Kobe is the one you don't want to play. The one who is scoring a lot of points at a real high percentage and living on the free-throw line and getting assists on top of that, you don't want to deal with that guy.

"You'd like to deal with the one that every once in a while throws in one of those 7-for-24 [performances]."

Bryant isn't likely to win the league scoring title this season, but the Lakers are one of the league's surprising teams this season. They improved to 26-11 with Monday's win, having triumphed in 17 of their last 20 games.

Seattle used five defenders, including Kevin Durant, to slow down Bryant, who had 21 points at halftime and finished with 48.

Before their third meeting, the Sonics rookie admitted he's still in awe of Bryant.

"Kobe is somebody I really look up to, so every time I step on the floor it's going to be a wow factor," Durant said. "I respect Kobe a lot. I think everybody does, but you just got to go out and play hard and just compete."

Injury sidelines Bynum

Lakers center Andrew Bynum is expected to miss the next eight weeks because of a sprained left knee suffered in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The second-year center, who ranks among the league leaders in field-goal percentage (first), blocks (ninth) and rebounding (11th), is an integral part of Los Angeles' early success.

"I think it's going to take some time for us to figure out how important Andrew was to us," guard Derek Fisher said.

Durant's popularity

growing

Durant's No. 35 jersey was 11th in sales at the NBA Store in New York and online at the NBA's Web site during the holiday season.

"That just shows that my fans enjoy watching the Sonics play," he said. "It's testament to the team and how we're getting better. I thank the fans. I guess they like the 35 and the green and yellow.

"The first time I saw somebody wear my jersey, I really didn't know what to think. It's an honor to have another person wear my jersey, especially an older person. It kind of humbled me a little bit."

Boston's Kevin Garnett had the most popular jersey in sales.

Note

• F Chris Wilcox and G Luke Ridnour returned after long injury-related layoffs. Wilcox finished with 12 points and nine rebounds in 17 minutes, and Ridnour had 10 points and 11 assists in 24 minutes. Ridnour also moved into 10th place on the Sonics' all-time career assists list ahead of Dick Snyder.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com

L.A. LAKERS
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Walton	32:35	1-6	2-2	2-10	7	1	4
Odom	45:33	3-15	0-0	3-14	7	0	6
Brown	38:48	3-4	4-6	2-10	0	4	10
Fisher	33:42	5-10	0-0	0-0	0	2	12
Bryant	42:12	21-44	4-7	0-2	2	1	48
Turiaf	18:26	3-5	8-9	0-2	3	6	14
Farmar	19:23	5-6	0-0	0-1	4	0	12
Ariza	23:33	3-6	2-2	2-5	0	5	9
Crittenton	10:48	3-6	2-2	0-1	1	0	8
Totals		47-102	22-28	9-45	24	19	123

Percentages: FG .461, FT .786. Three-point goals: 7-21, .333 (Farmar 2-3, Fisher 2-3, Bryant 2-8, Ariza 1-2, Walton 0-2, Odom 0-3). Team rebounds: 14. Team turnovers: 9 (12 PTS). Blocked shots: 4 (Turiaf 3, Odom). Turnovers: 8 (Brown 2, Odom 2, Turiaf 2, Ariza, Bryant). Steals: 6 (Ariza 2, Bryant, Crittenton, Fisher, Odom).

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Green	36:25	6-12	2-2	2-7	3	3	14
Collison	38:30	10-16	4-6	7-18	1	3	24
Thomas	35:33	6-8	4-6	2-9	0	4	16
Watson	28:43	3-7	0-0	0-2	9	2	6
Durant	41:18	6-26	5-6	0-1	1	1	19
Wilcox	16:42	6-9	0-1	3-9	1	1	12
Ridnour	24:17	5-12	0-0	0-2	11	1	10
Szczerbiak	30:39	7-11	1-2	0-5	2	4	18
Petro	4:07	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	2	0
West	8:41	1-2	0-0	0-2	0	0	2
Wilkins	0:05	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals		50-104	16-23	14-55	28	21	121

Percentages: FG .481, FT .696. Three-point goals: 5-14, .357 (Szczerbiak 3-4, Durant 2-6, Ridnour 0-1, West 0-1, Green 0-2). Team rebounds: 8. Team turnovers: 13 (19 PTS). Blocked shots: 9 (Thomas 3, Collison 2, Durant 2, Wilcox 2). Turnovers: 12 (Collison 3, West 3, Watson 2, Green, Ridnour, Szczerbiak, Thomas). Steals: 5 (Collison, Durant, Thomas, Watson, Wilcox).

L.A. Lakers	28	36	23	28	8 — 123
Seattle	29	33	29	24	6 — 121

Attendance: 13,452 (17,072). Time: 2:37. Officials: Corbin, Richardson, Washington.