SB Nation Los Angeles - Gasol, Lakers Open Road Trip With Win Over Hornets In New Orleanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2011-02-05T22:48:23-08:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17400582011-02-05T22:48:23-08:002011-02-05T22:48:23-08:00Pau, Kobe Lead Lakers Over Hornets, 101-95
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<p>New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Pau Gasol</span></span> finished with a season-high 34 points and 10 rebounds while <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Kobe Bryant</span></span> contributed 32 points, nine boards and five assists, lifting the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a></span> over the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">Hornets</a></span>, 101-95, at New Orleans Arena. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Andrew Bynum</span></span> added 12 points and grabbed seven boards for the Lakers, who have won two of three, and all three meetings this season with New Orleans. "We shot the ball well and you always have to have that kind of a game to win, especially on the road," Lakers coach <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Phil Jackson</span></span> said. "The other thing we did was control the pace. We did not win the rebound battle; that was one of the other faults, but the thing is we took care of it."</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Chris Paul</span></span> led the Hornets with 21 points and 15 assists while <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>David West</span></span> posted 16 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which has dropped four of five. The big difference in the game was free throws. The Lakers were 23-of-27, while the Hornets made all four of their attempts.</p>
<p>"It's hard for a game to be that physical and we only get four free throws," New Orleans coach <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Monty Williams</span></span> said. "I think our guys were competing their butts off tonight and I thought that we deserved a little bit more whatever you want to call it but I think we deserved to go to the line more tonight." Paul knotted the game at 92 on a running bank shot with 3:43 remaining. Bryant then responded with one of his four three-pointers at the far end, and after <span>David Andersen</span>'s three was off the mark, Odom connected on a tip shot with 2:50 remaining to give the Lakers a 97-92 advantage.</p>
<p>Both teams went flat for the next two minutes, and forced to foul, the Hornets sent Gasol to the line with 20.8 seconds left. He made both. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Marco Belinelli</span></span> made a three with 15.1 seconds remaining to cut the Hornets deficit to four, but Bryant iced the game by sinking two from the line in the final seconds. Gasol posted 10 points in the first quarter as the Lakers took a 27-19 lead after the opening 12 minutes. Bryant added 10 of his own in the second quarter, however, the Hornets shot 13-of-21 from the field, cutting the Lakers' lead to 56-50 at the break.</p>
<p>The Hornets came alive in the third quarter, led by a 13 point, 5-of-5 from the field effort from Paul. New Orleans shot 65 percent from the floor, including two Paul three-pointers in the final minute, and took an 82-81 lead into the fourth quarter, their first lead of the night. Marcus Thornton added 14 points while Andersen and <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Aaron Gray</span></span> added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for New Orleans...Odom scored nine points in a reserve role...New Orleans held a 42-37 rebounding advantage...The four turnovers for Los Angeles are the lowest for the team this year...New Orleans was also held without a steal in the game for the first time this year...The Lakers held the Hornets to zero fast break points.</p>
<p><i>For more information on tonight's game, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Silver Screen and Roll</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2011/2/5/1977813/lakers-vs-hornets-nba-pau-gasol-kobe-bryant-chris-paulEric Stephen2011-02-05T14:29:13-08:002011-02-05T14:29:13-08:00Lakers Vs. Hornets: Emeka Okafor Out For New Orleans With Strained Left Oblique
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<p>When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> begin their seven-game road trip tonight in New Orleans, they will be facing a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">Hornets</a>' team without their starting center. <span>Emeka Okafor</span> is out with a left oblique strain suffered on Sunday in Phoenix. Okafor, who is averaging 11.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this season, is expected to miss up to three weeks.</p>
<p>Prior to missing Tuesday's game, Okafor had a streak of 306 consecutive games played, with was the fourth-longest active streak in the NBA. Derek Fisher of the Lakers has the longest active streak in the league at 463 games, including 341 straight starts.</p>
<p>In the <a target="_blank" href="http://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2010/12/29/1902507/lakers-hornets-nba-kobe-bryant-chris-paul">Lakers' 103-88 win in New Orleans on December 29</a>, they outrebounded the Hornets, <i>with Okafor</i>, 44-24. In <a target="_blank" href="http://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2011/1/7/1921500/lakers-vs-hornets-nba-kobe-bryant-chris-paul">the rematch in Los Angeles on January 7</a>, the Lakers won again, but the margin was closer (101-97), thanks to the Hornets outrebounding the Lakers 39-38. Okafor had 13 points and 13 rebounds in that contest. Here is a look at tonight's probable starting lineups and injury reports for both teams:</p>
<h3>Lakers (34-16)</h3>
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<b>Point Guard</b>: <span>Derek Fisher</span>
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<b>Shooting Guard</b>: <span>Kobe Bryant</span>
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<b>Small Forward</b>: <span>Ron Artest</span>
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<b>Power Forward</b>: <span>Pau Gasol</span>
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<b>Center</b>: <span>Andrew Bynum</span>
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<p>Bynum, who missed Tuesday's game against Houston with a bone bruise in his left knee, is listed as probable tonight. Bynum played Thursday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a>, and 10 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and a career-high six assists.</p>
<h3>Hornets (32-19)</h3>
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<b>Point Guard</b>: <span>Chris Paul</span><br>
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<b>Shooting Guard</b>: <span>Marco Belinelli</span><br>
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<b>Small Forward</b>: <span>Trevor Ariza</span><br>
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<b>Power Forward</b>: <span>David West</span><br>
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<b>Center</b>: <span>Jason Smith</span><br>
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<p>Ariza is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain.</p>
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<p><i>For more information on tonight's game, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Silver Screen and Roll</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2011/2/5/1977065/lakers-vs-hornets-nba-emeka-okafor-out-strained-left-oblique-starting-lineupsEric Stephen2011-02-05T11:56:53-08:002011-02-05T11:56:53-08:00Lakers Begin Seven-Game Road Trip Against Hornets In New Orleans
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<p><span>Kobe Bryant</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> begin their second seven-game road trip of the season tonight in New Orleans, facing <span>Chris Paul</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">Hornets</a> at New Orleans Arena. The Lakers have lost three of their last four games, and had to go to overtime for the one victory, against the sub-.500 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a>. The Lakers are just 4-5 in their last nine games.</p>
<p>Tonight's game begins a seven-game road trip for the Lakers, which takes them into the All-Star break, when the basketball world descends upon Staples Center for NBA All-Star Weekend. The Lakers already had one seven-game trip this season, from December 8-19, although the first of those road games was a contest in Los Angeles against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a>. The Lakers went 6-1 on that trip, but face a tougher set of opponents over the next two weeks. In addition to facing the Hornets, who at 32-19 are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference, the Lakers also have trips to face Eastern Conference powers Boston and Orlando on the trip.</p>
<p>The Lakers have beaten New Orleans twice this season, including <a target="_blank" href="http://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2010/12/29/1902507/lakers-hornets-nba-kobe-bryant-chris-paul">a 103-88 win in New Orleans on December 29 </a>which featured the return of center <span>Andrew Bynum</span> to the starting lineup. The Lakers are 15-8 on the road this season, which is tied for the fourth-best road record in the NBA. The Hornets are 20-5 at home, the fourth best home mark in the league. The Hornets have lost three of their last four games after winning 10 straight contests.</p>
<p><i>For more information on tonight's game, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Silver Screen and Roll</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/2/5/2329204/lakers-begin-seven-game-road-trip-against-hornets-in-new-orleansEric Stephen