Here is a by-the-numbers look at the Lakers’ 107-92 victory over the Charlotte Hornets:
7
Career-high amount of assists from Jordan Hill. The center was far from the only Laker dropping dimes, as Ronnie Price led all players with eight and Jeremy Lin dished out seven. In total, the Lakers had 28 assists to the Hornets’ 15.
14
Consecutive points scored by the Lakers midway through the third quarter. With 6:26 left in the frame, Carlos Boozer kicked off the 2:19 burst with eight straight points. Lin and Kobe Bryant then ended the run with back-to-back 3-pointers.
21
Point scored by both Bryant and Lin. Bryant, who went 7-for-20, did it all for the Lakers, also chipping in six rebounds and four assists. Lin (shot chart below) recorded his highest point total in a Laker uniform, going 8-for-12 on the night and 6-for-7 in the second half.
”That’s what I want to continue to try and do is just be assertive,” Lin said. “It’s one of those things where it’s not just: ‘OK, go out and drive every time.’ You still have a job. You have to run a team and make sure everyone’s happy. That’s your job to try and figure out the puzzle.”
41
Points scored by the Hornets in the second half. The Lakers surrendered at least 108 points in each of their first five games of the season and were potentially looking at another after Charlotte scored 51 points in the first half. However, the Lakers defense cracked down in the final two quarters, particularly in the third when the Hornets scored just 13.
”We did a better job defensively,” said Lakers head coach Byron Scott. “That’s what we have been talking about since Sept. 30. Our guys did a much better job of understanding what we want on that end of the floor. … I think the first half they had nine offensive rebounds and beat us to every 50-50 ball. The second half, we were aggressive. I think they had one offensive rebound at the end of the third quarter.”
51.2
Field goal percentage shot by the Lakers. L.A. entered the game shooting just 43.3 percent, but it pieced together a 42-for-82 night, highlighted by a 25-for-39 (64.1 percent) clip in the second half.