The Lakers entered having won four straight and 14 of their last 17 games. In addition, their 35-8 record was the NBA’s best.

But it didn’t matter against the Bobcats.

“I just think it was a terrific performance against a great team,” Brown said. “I really don’t know how to explain it because they are playing at such a high level.”

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he couldn’t explain why the Bobcats have had the Lakers’ number.

The NBA is reviewing the flagrant foul called against Lakers center Andrew Bynum that landed Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace in the hospital to determine if any disciplinary action should be taken.

But league officials said Wednesday that it’s common practice for the NBA to review flagrant fouls.

When Diaw’s 3-point shot dropped to tie the game, Bryant became so enraged that he threw an imaginary fastball at Odom’s head. It was astonishing that Bryant managed to hold on to the towel in his right hand given the ferocity with which he whipped his arm in Odom’s direction, but the message of the brush-back pitch was clearly sent.

The first chance he got at the next timeout, Bryant was out there near midcourt to get the first disparaging word into Odom’s ear. Odom’s mind melt was all the more brutal considering the similarity of that play to one that got him benched (with earfuls from Phil Jackson and Kurt Rambis) late in regulation.