Halftime: Lakers 44, Bobcats 43

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Lakers coach Phil Jackson, looking for an early spark, inserted Shannon Brown into the lineup ahead of Jordan Farmar late in the first quarter tonight. The Lakers started by shooting a meager 6-for-19. Matters improved slightly by the end of the half. Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 14 points and eight rebounds. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol had eight apiece. Bryant made only 4 of 14. Gerald Wallace had 12 points and seven rebounds for the Bobcats. The Lakers shot 39.2 percent; the Bobcats shot 47.4.