Lakers 96, Bulls 87

CHICAGO -- Kobe Bryant put the sluggish Lakers on his back and carried them to a victory tonight over the Chicago Bulls. Bryant scored 20 of his season-high 42 points in an electric first quarter. He made eight of his first 10 shots, setting the tone early. His fractured right index finger did not seem to slow him in the least. He made 15 of 26 shots one game after making only 7 of 24 in the Lakers' loss Saturday to the Utah Jazz. Andrew Bynum scored 11 points and Pau Gasol added 10 points and a team-leading 16 rebounds. Derrick Rose and Luol Deng led Chicago with 21 points apiece, and Joakim Noah had 11 points and 20 rebounds.