In an attempt to find a boost in the backcourt, Los Angeles Lakers officials attended a private workout for guard Gilbert Arenas on Sunday in Southern California, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Two sources familiar with the workout said Arenas moved well and made a positive impression, but there was no sense of how quickly – if at all – the Lakers would pursue signing him to a free-agent contract.

On Monday in his hometown of Philly, Kobe passed Shaq for fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

After Lakers practice on Wednesday (two days of rest leading up to tonight’s game at Boston), the “Black Mamba” said the torn ligament in his right wrist is completely behind him.

“I got through it,” Kobe said.

When asked if he would use the term “healed,” Kobe said: “Yes.”

The NBA’s leading scorer (29.3 ppg) said he stopped using the pregame injection that would numb the wrist to pain two games ago.

Selected with the 58th pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, the UTEP/Louisville product, who suffered a knee injury during the preseason, hadn’t appeared in a game with the Lakers.

In four games with the NBDL’s Los Angeles D-Fenders, he averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 23.5 minutes.

Rumors: The Lakers are said to be interested in free-agent guard Gilbert Arenas (attended workout) and have inquired about Rockets’ third-year PG Jonny Flynn.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown has been suspended for one game without pay and fined $25,000 for charging the court and bumping referee Zach Zarba in the team’s 96-87 loss at the Utah Jazz.

Brown will serve the suspension Monday night, when the Lakers play at the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brown felt forward Pau Gasol was fouled, but there was no call. Brown got two technicals and was ejected with 8 minutes, 34 seconds to play.

After Clippers forward Blake Griffin fouled Lakers forward Pau Gasol with 1.1 seconds remaining in the Lakers’ 96-91 win, Clippers guard Chris Paul tried to grab the ball from Gasol’s hands as the two began jawing at one another. Gasol and Paul continued to talk while Lakers guard Kobe Bryant got in front of the two as Gasol walked to the free throw line.

Before Gasol stepped to the line, he smiled and put his hand on top of Paul’s head. Paul immediately shoved Gasol’s hand away and tapped Gasol on his head.

“He tried to touch the top of my head. I don’t like that,” Paul said after the game. “I got a son of my own. I don’t know if Pau got kids, but don’t touch the top of my head like I’m one of your kids. I don’t know what his intentions were, and it doesn’t matter. I don’t know if he’s got kids, but I’m not one of them.”

“You’re a grown man,” Paul said. “I’m not going to put my hand on top of your head. They beat us, and that’s the story of the game.”

Gasol, when he was told of Paul’s reaction, said he didn’t intend to disrespect Paul by touching his head.

“I’m sorry he felt that way,” Gasol said. “I do that all the time with my teammates. It’s OK. It’s like if I touch your shoulder or your back. There’s nothing mean about it, but it is what it is.”

Kobe was able to relate with Paul’s competitiveness nature.

“Chris is chippy,” Bryant said. “I’m extremely chippy, and that DNA spreads to the rest of the team. That’s how it is.”

Kobe Post Game Quote: “Metta found Ron Artest, I mean like the Auburn Palace Ron Artest.”

Despite misfiring on 22 of their 24 three-point tries, the Lakers got Andrew Bynum back, and dominated the paint against a fast paced Nuggets’ group — playing their brand of basketball under new head coach Mike Brown.

It was a clash of styles on display at the Staples Center, and the Lakers tempo won out, 92-89 — thanks in large part to the return of their prized 7-foot center — who tallied 29 points and 13 rebounds in his first game back this season.

The 285-pound interior presence was 13 of 18 shooting and crashed the offensive glass with six hauls — helping the Lakers outrebound Denver 50-36.

Bynum compensated enough for an off-day by Kobe, who was 6 of 18 shooting, yet, nonetheless, missed out on a triple-double by only one assist — 10 rebounds and nine dimes to accompany 18 points.

In the deciding fourth quarter, Bynum and Kobe teamed up to score 18 points, matching the Nuggets output for the final period to earn the win.  It also helped that Denver forward Danilo Gallinari missed a potential game-tying bunny on a fast break opportunity with 1.1 seconds left.

For Bynum, he came through when it mattered the most, as he had 11 points in the last 12 minutes and also provided early out of the gate for the Lakers.

“They were looking for me a lot. I was a focal point early in the offense, so I knew the quicker I got down the court, the better it was,” said Bynum, who made four of his first five shots and finished the first quarter with 10 points.

His frontcourt partner, Pau Gasol, also generated an impressive effort with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Overall, it was a game you will be seeing the Lakers play a lot from here on out — aggressive, grind-it-out basketball — led by Bynum.

“I just wanted to come out and be aggressive. I wanted to get it down low, and when I got it, I made shots.”

How fitting is it that with all the talk revolving around the trade that didn’t happen with Chris Paul and a possible pursuit of Dwight Howard, that Bynum made you forget about the near-miss acquisitions with a big-time performance in his first game in an offense tailored around his needs.

Could the Lakers new approach of tough defense and beat-you-up physicality bring the best out of Bynum, an asset many believe the Lakers should have traded by now?

Either way, you finally got a glimpse of what the Lakers could be this season centered around a healthy Bynum — let’s just hope he stays at full strength.

Rematch: The Lakers will travel to the Mile High City on New Year’s Day to play the Nuggets again.