Thu, 11/19 Bulls @ Lakers

Next up on the travel itinerary are the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on Thursday. During a Chicago radio appearance, Lakers coach Phil Jackson expressed mock sympathy for the Bulls' road woes.

"They've already made their circus trip successful because this is one of the hardest things they've had to accomplish, to get out of the blocks and win a game here," Jackson said on WMVP's "Waddle and Silvy Show" on Wednesday morning.

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With Gasol back on the floor, this game will be an even greater test for the Bulls' improved defense. So far this season the Bulls have held eight of their 10 opponents below their season scoring average - some by a wide margin.

But the challenges don't get much more daunting in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant was supposed to be nursing a groin injury, but he produced his 100th career 40-point game in Tuesday's win over Detroit. New addition Ron Artest is averaging 11.7 points, while center Andrew Bynum is at 20.3 points and 11.8 rebounds.

Asked what worries him about the Bulls, Bryant replied, "Their speed. They're a very quick team, very athletic, long, rangy. We have to make sure we control the pace of the game."

LOS ANGELES -- Pau Gasol had 24 points and 13 rebounds in his season debut, and Kobe Bryant scored 21 points while passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the Lakers' career scoring chart in Los Angeles' 108-93 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

Ron Artest added 15 points for the Lakers, who finally had their full starting lineup intact for their ninth victory in 12 games to start the season. The defending NBA champions had little trouble with the Bulls, opening a 20-point lead in the third quarter before beating them for the eighth time in nine meetings.

Derrick Rose had 20 points and John Salmons scored all 18 of his points in the first half for the Bulls, who lost on the second stop of a taxing six-game road trip.

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Bulls F Taj Gibson worked out with his former teammates at USC on Wednesday, Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said. The rookie starter had four points and seven rebounds against the Lakers. ... Lamar Odom and Chicago's Kirk Hinrich exchanged insults after a hard foul by Hinrich in the third quarter.