By Eric Pincus

5:53 p.m.|February 8, 2013

Dwight Howard led the Lakers with 12 points and eight rebounds. Steve Nash had 10 points but also four turnovers.

The Bobcats shot 44% from the field with just three turnovers. Byron Mullens still led all scorers with 14. Gerald Henderson contributed 11.

The Lakers had narrowed the gap to just five after a pair of completed three-point plays from Howard but the Bobcats stretched the lead back to 13 before ending the period up 53-41.

Bobcats 30 - Lakers 20 (end of first quarter)

The Lakers struggled in the first quarter against the Charlotte Bobcats, scoring 20 points on 38.1% shooting with seven turnovers.

Charlotte had little trouble scoring, getting into transition with six steals while shooting 48.1% from the field. The Bobcats also got to the line seven times (hitting four) while the Lakers got just one attempt.

Byron Mullens led all scorers with nine points.The Bobcats also got eight from Kemba Walker.

Jodie Meeks hit a pair of three-pointers to keep the Lakers in the game, leading the team with six. Dwight Howard had four points while Kobe Bryant didn't score.

Pregame

After a tough loss in Boston on Thursday night, the Lakers (23-27) visit the Charlotte Bobcats (11-37) on Friday night.

The Bobcats barely lost to the Lakers when they last met in December, getting multiple shots at the game winner in the final seconds.  For whatever reason, Charlotte always seems to give the Lakers a tough time.

Kemba Walker was a force in the first meeting. The Lakers should be able to handle the Bobcats but this is by no means a lock.

For a more in-depth breakdown, check out Preview: Lakers at Bobcats.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.