LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Caron Butler's 3-pointer to end the first half Friday gave the Los Angeles Clippers momentum that carried them to a 105-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have lost all three of their regular season games after going 0-8 in the exhibition campaign. The Clippers have started the year at 2-0.
Butler's long-range shot lifted the Clippers into a 52-47 halftime lead and they then opened the second half on a 10-4 run. Their lead grew to 15 at the start of the fourth quarter and it did not fall below 10 the rest of the way.
The Clippers beat the Lakers for the fifth time in 20 games.
Jamal Crawford went 9-of-9 from the foul line and his 21 points off the bench led the Clippers. Chris Paul added 18 points and 15 assists while Blake Griffin scored 15 and Butler had 14.
Kobe Bryant, who suggested to media members that they were overreacting to the Lakers' first two losses of the year, put up 40 points in the losing effort. He was 14-of-23 from the field and perfect in 10 free-throw tries.
Dwight Howard added 13 in his third game with the Lakers. Steve Nash, another newcomer to the team, sat out with a sore left leg.
