Half: Lakers 52, Clippers 50

The Lakers led the Clippers by a narrow margin tonight at Staples Center despite only six points from Kobe Bryant, who left the game late in the second quarter after smacking his funny bone in his right elbow. Pau Gasol scored 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Randy Foye had 17 for the Clippers. The Lakers shot 48.8 percent in the first half; the Clippers shot 34.1 percent. The Clippers outrebounded the Lakers by 26-16 in their first game since trading Baron Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers.