The Los Angeles Lakers look to extend their winning streak to two games tonight, as they return home to face the New Orleans Hornets at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant continues to move up the all-time scoring list, with Oscar Robertson in his sights tonight. It's only fitting that on the night Kobe may pass one of the greatest point guards of all-time, the Lakers welcome to town the current best point guard in the NBA.
Chris Paul is fully healthy this season, after missing 37 contests last season. Paul this season leads the NBA in PER, the rating system devised by John Hollinger of ESPN. Paul is averaging 16.7 points per game, is third in the league with 9.8 assists per game, and leads the NBA with 2.9 steals per game. He is shooting a career-high 45.1% on three-pointers this season as well.
Bryant is 16 points short of passing Robertson for ninth place on the NBA all-time scoring list. Bryant, who passed Dominique Wilkins for 10th place Tuesday night against Detroit, has scored 26,695 points in his illustrious career, compared to 26,710 points for the Big O. Kobe is also leading all NBA players in All-Star voting, for the February 20 game to be held at Staples Center.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum made his first start of the season against the Hornets, in a 103-88 win on December 29. Since joining the starting lineup, the Lakers are 4-1, and Bynum is averaging 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in just under 28 minutes per contest as a starter, making 64.3% of his field goals. Meanwhile, Lamar Odom has taken to the sixth man role just fine, averaging 15.4 points and 7.2 rebounds off the bench.
For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.