BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Kobe Bryant returned to the lineup and scored 20points, 16 in the third quarter, to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 126-106victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Thursday night.

Bryant sat out the second and fourth quarters, but scored 12 straight forthe Lakers in the third. He seemed to play to the pro-Lakers crowd, hitting ajumper with fans chanting “Kobe! Kobe!”

The Sonics had cut the Lakers’ lead to five before Bryant’s run, but afterhe dunked an alley-oop from Ronny Turiaf, Los Angeles was ahead 79-64.

Turiaf scored all of his 13 points in the first quarter for the Lakers,while Andrew Bynum added 19 for the Lakers, who led 64-47 at the half.

Rookie Kevin Durant finished with 18 points and Chris Wilcox added 16.Seattle center Robert Swift returned to his hometown and scored seven points.

Bryant appeared upbeat when he spoke to reporters before the game. He hadmostly ignored the media since Lakers owner Jerry Buss stated last week that he”would certainly listen” to trade offers for the two-time defending NBAscoring champion.

When asked about his recent silent treatment, Bryant said: “Why would Ineed to bang my head against a wall?”

He missed some practice this week because of a sore knee, then said in hisfirst formal interview since Buss’ statement that it caught him off guard.

He repeated again on Thursday his desire to not discuss the matter.

“When I’m here, wherever I’m at, I’m ready to go,” Bryant said. “It’s notmy job to worry about what management is doing at this point. I voiced myfrustrations over the summer and I’ll just leave it there.”

Bryant asked to be traded 4 1/2 months ago, then avoided speaking about theLakers until the beginning of training camp Oct. 1, when he talked morepositively, saying he was looking forward to the season.

It seemed the parties had put negative feelings behind them before Buss madehis comments to three beat writers last week.