Lakers vs. Bulls: Pau Gasol has big night in his return

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The Lakers are starting to become whole again, the return of Pau Gasol going a long way to help them.

Gasol had missed a little more than five weeks with a strained right hamstring, but he looked strong in helping the Lakers defeat the Chicago Bulls, 108-93, on Thursday night at Staples Center.

Gasol played 34 minutes and produced a double-double with 24 points on nine-for-15 shooting and 13 rebounds.

He was one of six Lakers that scored in double figures.

Kobe Bryant almost had a triple-double with 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Every Laker played in a game during which the Lakers opened a 24-point lead before they coasted for the victory.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said after practice Wednesday that he would play Gasol about 25 minutes.

But that clearly wasn’t the case. Gasol looked winded a few times, but he made it through the game without a problem.

Lakers 84, Bulls 67 (third quarter) The Lakers went to work during a third quarter in which Kobe Bryant made more history.

The Lakers ran off to a 20-point lead before holding an 84-67 lead over the Bulls at the end of the third.

All five Lakers’ starters had scored in double figures by the end of the third quarter.

Pau Gasol led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

With 6:07 left in the third, Bryant made one of two free throws for his 16th point of the game. It meant that Bryant had become the second-leading scorer in Lakers’ franshise history with 24,177 points, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24,176).

Jerry West in the team’s all-time leader in points scored with 25,192 points.

Lakers 53, Bulls 42 (halftime)

The Lakers settled into a nice little groove, building a 12-point lead in the second quarter before taking a 53-42 halftime lead over the Chicago Bulls.

Kobe Bryant had 13 points, but he was just four-for-14 shooting from the field in the first half.

Pau Gasol finished the first half with 14 points.

Chicago second-year guard Derrick Rose continued to struggle with his shot. He was just two for 11 from the field in the first half, including missing a layup just before time expired to end the first half.

Lakers 25, Bulls 19 (first quarter)

Rust?

What Rust?

Even though it was his first game in more than five weeks, Pau Gasol played as if he hadn’t missed the first 11 regular-season games.

Gasol, who had been out with a strained right hamstring, had 10 points and four rebounds in helping the Lakers open a 25-19 first-quarter lead over the Chicago Bulls tonight at Staples Center.

Gasol was four-for-five shooting from the field in nine minutes of action.

Gasol scored on two tip-ins, a jumper, on two free throws and by running the court on the fast break, taking a pass from Ron Artest for a layup.

-- Broderick Turner

Pregame

Finally, the long-awaited debut of Pau Gasol.

The Lakers forward will suit up tonight for the first time this season after missing 11 games because of a strained hamstring. How will it go against Chicago?

‘We really haven’t had a lot of time on the court with him,’ Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

Translation: Gasol might look rusty tonight, but, hey, the guy averaged 18.9 points and 9.6 rebounds last season. He’ll only help a team that has already suffered two home losses.

-- Mike Bresnahan