Bobcats 98, Lakers 83

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It's official. This turned into a bad trip for the Lakers tonight. They lost their second consecutive game to an inferior team. Who knows what will happen when they play a good team Sunday in Orlando? The Lakers' game was lacking during losses Thursday to the Miami Heat and tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats. Losing to the Heat could be excused. The Heat needed overtime to win, and they have a superstar capable of leading them in Dwyane Wade. What do the Bobcats have? Well, whatever it was, they had a lot more of it than the Lakers had tonight. The Lakers looked tired after a credible start and never led after the first quarter. Kobe Bryant scored 26 points for the Lakers, who haven't lost three in a row since trading for Pau Gasol on Feb. 1, 2008. Stephen Jackson scored 21 points for the Bobcats.