Lakers-Hornets Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Mar 14 2012 2:05AM

Kobe Bryant's increased production on a winning streak shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

Having Andrew Bynum emerge as an offensive force in the paint is a pleasant development for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant and Bynum look to continue their impressive play as the Lakers go for a fourth win in a row by continuing their dominance of the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

Bryant leads the NBA with 28.9 points per game, and he's averaging 31.3 during Los Angeles' three-game winning streak.

While the 14-time All-Star continues to be the main offensive cog for the Lakers (26-16), they're also getting some surprising production from Bynum.

The center is averaging career highs of 17.6 points and 12.7 rebounds on the season, but he's been even better over the last three games. He's scoring 27.7 points per game with 13.3 boards in that stretch while hitting a remarkable 71.4 percent of his field goals.

"They're trusting me now," Bynum said of his teammates. "They're just looking to get me the ball. When I get it, I'm doing decent things with it. Cutting down the turnovers. But it's part of learning and being a dominant player."

Bynum had a season-high 37 points with 16 rebounds Tuesday while Bryant had 34 and nine, respectively, to power a 116-111 double-overtime victory at Memphis. The guard was quick to credit Bynum's 15-of-18 shooting performance, saying the Lakers have decided to run more plays through the 7-foot big man.

"The big games he had at the start of the season, he was having good games, but he wasn't being featured," Bryant said of Bynum. "This is different. We're featuring him, and we're looking for him to make plays out of double-teams, and make plays for others, not just himself."

That may not be especially difficult in the first meeting of the season with the Hornets (10-32), who are at the bottom of the Western Conference.

Bryant is averaging 29.1 points in his last nine meetings with them, while Bynum has a 16.2 average in his last five matchups.

The Lakers have won 10 of 12 versus New Orleans, sweeping the four-game season series in 2010-11. That included two visits to New Orleans Arena, the latest a 101-95 victory on Feb. 5, 2011, as Bryant scored 32 points.

The Hornets have dropped five of six overall while averaging 86.5 points.

Their most recent defeat may be the most troubling. They fell 73-71 to league-worst Charlotte on Monday after Trevor Ariza's attempted game-tying dunk in the final seconds was blocked. New Orleans didn't help itself by shooting 38.5 percent from the field.

"We came out of halftime going through the motions," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "We should have played better than this."

Chris Kaman is hoping to improve from the field after he made 6 of 19 shots to finish with 12 points alongside 16 rebounds and three blocks Monday. That came two days after he needed 21 shots to score 20 points in a 95-89 win at Minnesota.

Kaman totaled 18 points on 9-of-19 shooting in two meetings with the Lakers last season as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jarrett Jack, the Hornets' leader with 14.9 points and 6.1 assists per game, has also struggled versus the Lakers. The guard is averaging 6.3 points on 7-of-21 shooting with two total assists in his past three games in the series while backing up Chris Paul.

Bryant leads Lakers past Hornets in OT, 107-101

By BRETT MARTEL
Posted Mar 15 2012 12:36AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are defying conventional wisdom, summoning the determination to play their best when their veteran legs should be turning to jelly.

Bryant scored 33 points, and the Lakers won their fourth straight game and second in a row in overtime, 107-101 over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

"We don't get down whenever we trail by 14, 15, whatever points. We don't get discouraged," Bryant said. "We've been through it before. We've been down big in Game 7 of an NBA finals, so this is really nothing to us to maintain our composure."

For the second night in a row, the Lakers climbed out of a double-digit hole in the second half to force an extra period. On Tuesday night, they came back from 17 down to win at Memphis in double-overtime. They also trailed New Orleans by as many as 17 late in the second quarter and 15 in the second half.

The Lakers needed only one extra session in New Orleans, taking the lead on Derek Fisher's jumper in the final minute and going ahead 102-99 on Metta World Peace's steal and fast-break layup.

"Having those old guys that are battle-tested and have been through it before is great," Fisher said, referring in part to World Peace's clutch overtime steal and score. "Those are the type of plays that I mean - plays where guys are willing to step into the moment and make a play and not be fearful or afraid of the consequences. We have a team full of guys that have been through that."

Andrew Bynum added 25 points and 18 rebounds for Los Angeles, while Pau Gasol had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Jarrett Jack scored 30 points, while Chris Kaman had 21 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which has dropped six of seven games.

Bryant scored seven of his points in overtime, starting with a fast-break dunk as he was fouled by Marco Belinelli, whose desperate jersey grab was unable to slow the Lakers star down. The basket marked Los Angeles' first lead since 17-16 in the first quarter.

"We foul Kobe on a fast break and give him a dunk as opposed to wrapping him up. ... From my standpoint, guys do that when they've never been in that position before. They don't understand a hard foul," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "That's something we can learn from and grow from. But at the same time, when you lose, you're like, `Gosh, I wish we could have that one back."'

Bryant later added a difficult driving floater as he drifted across the lane to put the Lakers ahead 98-95. The Hornets briefly came back to regain a 99-98 lead on Trevor Ariza's jumper with 1:21 left before Los Angeles went back in front for good.

Fisher finished with 11 points and Matt Barnes 10 for the Lakers, who outrebounded New Orleans 44-34.

Greivis Vasquez added 15 points and Belinelli 10 for New Orleans, which lost despite outshooting Los Angeles 51.8 percent (44 of 85) to 45.1 percent (37 of 82).

"That's a team that won championships," Vasquez said of the Lakers. "They have been in that situation many times and they know how to act: Be calm, be relaxed and they executed. That really hurt us."

The Lakers' comeback began with World Peace's first basket of the game early in the third quarter. Bryant added six points on what became a 14-4 run capped by Gasol's jam.

Kaman's jumper pushed New Orleans' lead back to 64-57, but Fisher's free throws and Bynum's alley-oop dunk of Bryant's lob ignited an 11-4 Lakers spurt, which concluded with Barnes' 3 that tied it at 68 in the final minute of the period.

"Our guys came out at halftime and were determined to play the right way by getting stops," said Lakers coach Mike Brown, whose team outscored New Orleans 30-16 in the third quarter. "That helped us gain confidence."

The Hornets weren't ready to fold just yet, though. Vasquez's free throws and transition 3 began a 7-0 spurt early in the fourth quarter, and the Hornets clung to the lead until Gustavo Ayon fouled Bryant behind the 3-point line with 19.3 seconds left. Officials ruled Bryant was in a shooting motion, giving him three free throws, all of which he made to tie it at 93. Neither team could score again in regulation, with Bryant's attempted game-winner from the corner rimming out as time expired.

The Hornets shot nearly 61.5 percent in the first half (24 of 39) - the highest percentage allowed by the Lakers in a half all season - and held a double-digit lead through most of second quarter. Jack hit his first eight shots and had 17 points before halftime.

Bryant had 14 points in the first half, including a soaring double-pump jam as he was fouled. But Bryant missed seven of his first 11 shots and also had a swished 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter disallowed because his up-fake delayed his release until after horn.

Consecutive baskets by Jack put New Orleans up 54-37 late in the second period. That only set the stage for the Lakers to show the same resilience they had a night earlier.

Notes: This marked the first meeting of the teams this season. They meet again March 31 in Los Angeles and April 9 in New Orleans. ... Several celebrities who are filming in New Orleans showed up to see the visit by Hollywood's longtime favorite team. Actor Don Johnson sat along the sideline next to New Orleans celebrity chef John Besh. Samuel Jackson sat along the baseline near the Lakers' bench. ... Announced attendance was 17,272, the second-largest home crowd of the season. ... Jack's scoring total marked the first time a Hornets player has scored 30 in a game this season.

Notebook: Lakers 107, Hornets 101

Posted Thursday March 15, 2012 12:37AM

Larry Holder, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 33 points as the Los Angeles Lakers toppled the New Orleans Hornets 107-101 in overtime on Wednesday night in the New Orleans Arena. Andrew Bynum was also dominant for the Lakers with 25 points and 18 rebounds in the win.

QUOTABLE: "I ask Kobe that (if the Lakers were trying to give him a heart attack). I had a buddy of mine, he's a good friend, he said, he texted me, 'Mike, Mike, good win. Now I have to go to the hospital to get my heart checked.' He's a little overweight like me so I didn't know if he was serious or not. I'll call to check on him once I get done here."
-- Lakers coach Mike Brown on winning an overtime game for the second consecutive night

THE STAT: The whistle was decidedly in favor of the Lakers. Los Angeles shot nearly three times as many free throws as New Orleans did Wednesday night. The Lakers went 28 of 35 from the line, while the Hornets were 10 of 13 from the stripe. Bryant himself made more free throws (11) than the Hornets made as a team.

TURNING POINT: The Lakers in the third quarter. They were down by as many as 17 points in the first half before they woke up from their tired legs, the result of winning in double overtime in Memphis on Tuesday night. The Lakers outscored the Hornets 30-16 in the third quarter to eventually tie it up 70-70 going into the fourth quarter. It's the second time in as many nights that the Lakers overcame a 17-point deficit and win the game.

HOT: Hornets guard Jarrett Jack played one of the best games the team has had all season, and yet it still wasn't enough for a win. Jack scored a team-high 30 points on 13 of 21 shooting, along with six assists, three rebounds, two blocked shots, one steal and no turnovers. Jack is the first Hornets player this season to score 30 or more points in a single game.

NOT: Hornets forward Gustavo Ayon broke a cardinal rule by fouling a 3-point shooter, and it was at the worst possible time. Ayon fouled Bryant on a 3-point attempt with 19.3 seconds remaining with the Hornets up 93-90. Bryant hit all three free throws to tie it 93-93 to eventually push the game to overtime.

QUOTABLE II: "The losses just drive you nuts. I was listening to somebody talking about winning. It's good, but it's not as bad as losing. The losing just makes you over-analyze at times or makes you really emotional. Where winning, it's almost the same every time."
-- Hornets coach Monty Williams

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Hornets center Chris Kaman had his fourth 20-point, 10-rebound output of the season Wednesday night as he ended with 21 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to Los Angeles. This may be the last time Kaman wears a Hornets uniform as he's a prime target for New Orleans to trade away before Thursday's trade deadline.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Every time the Lakers play in New Orleans it brings out numerous celebrities as actors Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Foxx, Don Johnson, Christoph Waltz, Stephen Baldwin and Anthony Anderson were throughout the arena. Chef John Bech and Saints safety Roman Harper were also at the game.

NOTABLE: Brown said before the Hornets game that no players sat out because of a trade possibility. Forward Luke Walton (gastroenteritis) was the only player out for the Lakers. Brown was asked about a possible trade rumor involving Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley, and he said it was the first time he heard Beasley's name even mentioned. Brown also said he hadn't spoken to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak at all on Wednesday. "I haven't been focused about any of the trade rumors. ... I know he (Kupchak) is trying to do his job. His job is to improve the team from the standpoint off the court. I think he'll do what he feels make sense," Brown said. Brown also said dealing with the trade rumors is just part of the business and guys could become more distracted around the deadline. ... Williams didn't address before the Lakers game the possibility of dealing with a new team on Thursday because of the trade deadline. He said he has some input with general manager Dell Demps about the deadline, but it's ultimately Demps' call on trades. Williams said it's much easier to get caught up and distracted in trade rumors than when he was a player. "If you want to hear a rumor about yourself, you don't have to go far to find it," Williams said. ... The Lakers' Pau Gasol, who's been rumored to be on the trading block all season, had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

UP NEXT: For the Lakers, Friday vs. Minnesota, Sunday vs. Utah, Tuesday @ Houston. For the Hornets, Thursday vs. Washington, Saturday @ New Jersey, Wednesday vs. Golden State.

• Lakers: Morris
• Hornets: Gordon

• Lakers: --
• Hornets: Kaman

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
• Officials: #49 Tom Washington, #30 John Goble, #73 Tre Maddox
• Attendance: 17272
• Duration: 2:35