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:
- Who: No. 2 seed Lakers, No. 7 seed Hornets
- What: Game 6, NBA Western Conference quarterfinals
- Where: New Orleans Arena, amazingly enough in New Orleans, Louisiana
- When: 5 p.m. PDT
- TV: TNT, KCAL
- Closing It Out: In the Pau Gasol era with the Lakers (since 2008), the Lakers have had 11 chances to close out a series. They have closed out 10 series on the first try. In the 2009 Western Conference semifinals, the Lakers held a 3-2 series lead over the Rockets but lost Game 6 in Houston. The Lakers won the series in Game 7.
- Kobe In The Road Purple With The Final Blow: Kobe Bryant has scored 30 or more points in each of the last eight games in which the Lakers have had the chance to close out a series on the road, an NBA record.
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Lakers History In Game 6: When leading a series 3-2, the Lakers all-time are 13-11 in Game 6 on the road, and have won four of their last five such road Games 6.
For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.