NEW YORK -- Kobe Bryant scored 18 points and the Los Angeles Lakers picked up their first win of the season, rallying for a 104-98 victory over the winless Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell had the most productive game of his brief career with 16 points. Guard Jordan Clarkson also finished with 16 points.

Bryant felt the anticipation from Lakers fans in the crowd every time he touched the ball. He finished 5-of-16 from the floor on a night when he missed his first six shots and did not score his first points until hitting a free throw early in the second quarter.

Center Brook Lopez scored 23 points for Brooklyn but was 1-of-5 in the fourth quarter. Forwards Joe Johnson and forward Thaddeus Young added 22 and 14 points, respectively, for the Nets, who shot 43 percent from the field and were outscored 96-79 in the final 40-plus minutes.

Bryant and Russell were actually on the bench when the Lakers began pulling away and on the court when the Nets tried to come back.

Bryant converted a highlight-reel reverse layup for an 83-74 lead with 10:06 remaining. He came out with 8:41 remaining and the Lakers expanded the lead to 92-81 on a basket by Nick Young with about seven minutes remaining.

With about four minutes remaining, a majority of the fans began loud chants of "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe," and with 3:45 left Bryant returned to a loud ovation. The Lakers led 94-87 when Bryant returned, but the Nets scored the next six and were within 96-93 after a layup by Johnson with 1:32 remaining.

The Nets were within 98-95 when guard Jarrett Jack hit a long jumper with a foot on the line with 29.5 seconds left. Jack then stole the inbounds pass by center Roy Hibbert with 24.2 seconds remaining, but Young was called for a five-second violation when he could not make the inbounds pass and Bryant iced it by making four throws in the final 23.9 seconds.

NOTES: Lakers F Kobe Bryant, asked before the game if he thought about Sunday potentially being his last appearance at Madison Square Garden, he said, "Absolutely." Bryant said appreciates moments but conceded Sunday will be "a little different this time around." ... Brooklyn F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson grew up idolizing Bryant in suburban Philadelphia and made his first career start. Hollis-Jefferson was a 1-year-old when Bryant went from Lower Merion (Pa.) High School to the Lakers in 1996. ... The Nets announced that they will own an NBA D-League team called the Long Island Nets starting next season. The team will spend next season in Brooklyn before moving to renovated Nassau Coliseum. ... Lakers coach Byron Scott said some of his younger players could see reduced playing time if mistakes persist. For emphasis, he invoked an old saying from his playing days: "That wood has a way of talking to your butt, too."