NBA: LA Lakers 100, Orlando 75

LOS ANGELES, June 4 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant scored 40 points Thursday and the Los Angeles Lakers made a big statement to open the NBA finals by blasting Orlando 100-75.

Orlando shot a woeful 30 percent from the floor and faded away in the second half under constant defensive pressure from the Lakers.

Bryant hit 16-of-34 shots from the field, made all eight of his foul shots and handed out eight assists.

Los Angeles took a 10-point halftime lead, soon built it to 14 and then saw the Magic close to within nine with 4 minutes having gone by in the third period.

The Lakers, however, ran off nine points in a row to halt Orlando's hopes of a comeback and Los Angeles surged to an 82-58 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Pau Gasol added 16 points and Lamar Odom had 11 to go with his 14 rebounds.

Orlando was led by 14 points from Mickael Pietrus. Superstar Dwight Howard found himself in early foul trouble and made only one field goal the entire game -- finishing with eight free throws and 12 total points.

The Magic got 23 minutes of action from point guard Jameer Nelson, who played for the first time since having shoulder surgery in early February. Nelson scored six points.

Los Angeles took a big first step toward its first NBA title in seven years. The Lakers fell in the final series last season to Boston.

Coach Phil Jackson is going after a record 10th championship. His team has won the opening game of a playoff series 43 times and he has amazingly gone on to capture all 43 of those series.

Los Angeles will host Game 2 Sunday before the series moves to Orlando.