Lakers Close Out Series With Game 6 Road Win Against Hornets, 88-80, Will Face Dallas In Second Round

Lakers Advance To Second Round By Routing Hornets, Close Out Series Winning 98-80

NBA Playoffs: Previewing Whom The Lakers May Face Next

SB Nation Los Angeles looks ahead to see which teams the Lakers might face if they advance past the Hornets in the NBA Playoffs.

Lakers Vs. Hornets Game 6: Pau Gasol, Emeka Okafor, & The New Orleans Bench Are Three Key Factors

In Lakers vs. Hornets Game 6, Chris Paul is going to have his way with Derek Fisher and fill up the stat sheet, while Kobe Bryant has scored 30 or more points in an NBA record eight consecutive close-out opportunities on the road. However, the key to tonight's game might just come from these three factors.

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets: Game 6 Preview, TV, Game Time, Etc

Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and the Los Angeles Lakers look to close out Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets Thursday night in Game 6 of their first round NBA playoff series in New Orleans. The Lakers lead the best-of-seven series 3-2, thanks to a 106-90 win in Game 5 Tuesday night at Staples Center. Here are the relevant details of tonight's contest.

Pau Gasol Benefits When Lakers Stick To Triangle Offense Vs. Hornets In NBA Playoffs

Pau Gasol hasn't been the most dominant player in the NBA playoffs during the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round match-up against the New Orleans Hornets, but Sebastian Pruiti of NBA Playbook notes that the Spanish big man is quite a bit better when Phil Jackson forces the team to stay committed to the famed Triangle Offense as they did on Tuesday.

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets: Los Angeles Takes 3-2 Lead Back To New Orleans After Game 5 Win

2011 NBA Playoffs: Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum Lead Lakers Over Hornets In Game 5, 106-90

Going into this first round series, the consensus was that the Lakers had too much size for the Hornets to handle. Tuesday night, that came to fruition as Andrew Bynum scored 18 points and grabbed 10 boards, leading the Lakers to a 106-90 victory over the Hornets in Game 5, and a 3-2 series lead.

Ron Artest Given NBA's Citizenship Award

Ron Artest hasn't had the most squeaky clean reputation during the entirety of his entire NBA career, but since he's come to the Los Angeles Lakers, the forward has done numerous things that show his outstanding service and dedication to the community. Those two qualities have not went unnoticed, either, as today Artest was named the 2010-11 recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

Phil Jackson On Kobe Bryant's Injury: 'He's Going To Play Anyway' In Game 5

Derrick Caracter Loves Pancakes, Is An Idiot

Laker rookie Derrick Caracter was arrested in a New Orleans IHOP. We catalogue the stupidity.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Game 5 Facts & Figures, Series Schedule, Game Time, TV, Etc

It goes without saying that the Los Angeles Lakers face a pivotal Game 5 Tuesday night at Staples Center against the Hornets in their first round NBA playoff series. They don't want to head back to New Orleans with the Hornets needed only a win to eliminate the Lakers. Kobe Bryant, bum ankle and all, is expected to play Tuesday night.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Kobe Bryant Refuses MRI, Plans To Play In Game 5

Kobe Bryant has a reputation for being tough and playing through pain, and stubbornness at times has a certain charm to it. However, the Lakers' guard is taking his toughness to a new level with his latest injury. Bryant, who injured his left ankle and foot on Sunday night in Game 4 in New Orleans against the Hornets, on Monday refused to take an MRI exam.

Kobe Bryant Injury Required An MRI, But Lakers Guard Expects To Play Game 5

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Chris Paul Still The Talk Of Game 4

In Game 4, both Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul were facilitators in that first half, and both found their scoring touch in the second half. But it was Paul who ultimately prevailed, with an eye-popping 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 15 assists in the Hornets' 93-88 win over the Lakers.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Lakers' Derrick Caracter Arrested In New Orleans Sunday

As if the loss in Game 4 Sunday night to the Hornets and the ankle injury to Kobe Bryant weren't bad enough for the Lakers, they now have to deal with the distraction because of the off-court actions of a no-name rookie. Derrick Caracter, the Lakers' second round pick out of UTEP last year who played in all of 215 minutes this season, was arrested early Sunday morning in New Orleans.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Paul, Hornets Defeat Lakers In A Tight Game 4, 93-88

Chris Paul capped his triple-double with an assist on Jarrett Jack's big jumper with 9.3 seconds remaining, as the New Orleans Hornets held off the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, 93-88, in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal set.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Game 4 Preview

The Los Angeles Lakers look to take control of their first round NBA playoff series against the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night in Game 4 in New Orleans. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to a 100-86 win in Game 3 with 30 points, the 80th 30-point playoff game of Kobe's career. Here are the relevant details of tonight's game.

2011 NBA Playoffs, First Round: Kobe Bryant Leads Lakers Over Hornets 100-86 In Game 3

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 30 points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-86 win over the New Orleans Hornets in Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series. The Lakers now have a 2-1 series lead, and have regained home court advantage over New Orleans.

Lakers Vs. Hornets, Game 3: Kobe Bryant Leads L.A. To 30-23 Lead After First Quarter

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter Friday night, looking to recapture home court advantage in New Orleans against the Hornets in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Bryant scored 10 points in 10 minutes, making four of six field goals, and leading the Lakers to a 30-23 lead after 12 minutes.

Lakers Vs. Hornets, Game 3: Starting Lineups, Game Time, TV, Etc

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers look to regain the advantage in their first round series against Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets. The two teams face off Friday night in Game 3. The game is expected to tipoff a little after 6:30 p.m. PDT, and will be televised by both ESPN and KCAL. Here are tonight's starting lineups for Game 3

Lakers Vs. Hornets, Game 3: Was Game 1 Loss Enough To Refocus Los Angeles?

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Can L.A. Continue Mastery Of Chris Paul's Pick-And-Rolls?

SB Nation examines the Lakers' brilliant pick-and-roll defense against the Hornets' Chris Paul in Game 2 of their playoff series.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Game 3 Preview, Game Time, TV And Breakdown

The Los Angeles Lakers lost home court advantage in their first round NBA playoff series to the Hornets with a Game 1 loss, but they will try to get it back beginning with Game 3 in New Orleans on Friday night. The Lakers came back after their loss in the opener with an 87-78 win in Game 2. Here are the relevant details of Friday night's Game 3.

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets: A Look Back At Game 2

It might not have been pretty, but the Los Angeles Lakers got the win they needed on Wednesday night at Staples Center to even their first-round NBA playoff series with the New Orleans Hornets. Sure, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined to make just five of 20 shots, but the Lakers still found a way to win, 87-78.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Lakers Vs. Hornets Series Schedule

The Lakers were able to even their first-round series with the Hornets with an 87-78 win in Game 2 on Wednesday night at Staples Center. Now the two teams head east to New Orleans for the next two games. Here is the schedule for the remainder of the series, which resumes Friday night.