NBA: LA Lakers 99, LA Clippers 92

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant kicked off the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA championship defense Tuesday with 33 points in a 99-92 victory over the Clippers.

Bryant shot 11-of-26 from the field and also had eight rebounds and four steals in the game, which followed the official presentation of the Lakers' championship rings for last season.

Andrew Bynum scored 23 for the Lakers, who got 10 points from new addition Ron Artest.

Eric Gordon led the Clippers with 21 points and Chris Kaman added 18 and had 16 rebounds.

The Clippers trailed by one point at the start of the fourth quarter but could not put together any momentum down the stretch.

The bad news for the Clippers included a 1-for-10 shooting night for Baron Davis.