Lakers Gameday | 02/20/09 | Lakers 115, Hornets 111

LOS ANGELES(AP) Kobe Bryant scored 11 of his 39 points in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers beat New Orleans 115-111 on Friday night, snapping the Hornets' NBA-record streak of 13 consecutive overtime victories.

Pau Gasol had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the defending Western Conference champions, who won for the 14th time in 16 games.

Derek Fisher, whose 3-pointer with 14.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter forced overtime, made four free throws in the final 14.3 seconds of the extra period to ice it. Lamar Odom grabbed 12 points and 17 rebounds, the fifth time in six games that he had 17 or more boards.

The Lakers improved the NBA's best record to 45-10 and avenged a 116-105 loss to the Hornets on Jan. 6 that ended a 15-game home winning streak. Chris Paul and David West, who combined for 72 points in that one, had 21 and 16 respectively in the rematch while Rasual Butler led the team with 31.

Paul played 45 minutes before picking up his sixth foul with 1:32 left in OT, the first time he fouled out in a regular-season game in his four-year NBA career. West had a season-high 16 rebounds for the Hornets, who were the only team in the league that hadn't played an overtime game this season.

Hornets center Tyson Chandler watched from the bench in street clothes with his current and "former'' teammates.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson rested Bryant for the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, and New Orleans reduced a 13-point deficit to 85-82 with 8:46 remaining on Butler's 3-pointer - one of five by the Hornets in the quarter.

Paul's two free throws gave the Hornets a 95-93 edge with 3:21 to play after the Lakers turned the ball over on a traveling violation. James Posey, who helped Boston beat the Lakers in last year's finals, drained his third 3-pointer of the quarter to give the Hornets a 98-95 lead with 1:15 to play after Los Angeles tied it on a tip-in by Gasol.

Paul was called for an offensive foul with 20.1 seconds left, and Fisher made him pay by with his tying 3-pointer. The Hornets had one more chance to win it in regulation, but Paul missed a 22-footer over Fisher in the final second.

Fisher's interception of a pass by West led to a fastbreak dunk by Bryant that capped a 12-3 run and gave Los Angeles their biggest lead, 77-61, with 1:48 left in the third quarter.

Chandler, who was traded by New Orleans to Oklahoma City on Tuesday and flunked his physical with the Thunder on Wednesday, rejoined the Hornets in Los Angeles for the start of a three-game road trip after the deal for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the draft rights to DeVon Hardin was rescinded.

Chandler has been sidelined since Jan. 19, when he injured his left ankle in a game against Boston. But the reason for his failed physical had more to do with the big toe on his left foot, than his ankle. Oklahoma City's team doctor, Carlan Yates, was the Hornets' team physician when he operated on Chandler's toe three years ago.

Notes: Fisher played only one season for Utah, but left with a deep and abiding affection for owner Larry Miller, who died Friday night at age 64. "He was an extremely passionate and compassionate individual,'' said Fisher, who was allowed to get out of his multiyear contract by Miller and return to the Lakers because of his daughter's rehabilitation from eye surgery that forced him to miss a portion of the playoffs. "I didn't know him well enough to be able to predict how he would respond, but I think the one thing that I had gathered throughout that year was how important family was to him and that he could relate to family issues.'' ... The Lakers observed a moment of silence for Miller. ... The Lakers, who came in averaging a league-best 108.8 points, missed 15 of 16 shots over the first 7:22 of the second quarter.

A little more than a year after a blockbuster trade helped vault them to the top of the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers were mostly content to stick with their talented roster as Thursday's trade deadline passed.

The New Orleans Hornets were among the teams that agreed to a big trade, but it didn't go through - and they may be better off for it.

Tyson Chandler probably won't be in the lineup for the Hornets on Friday night, but his eventual return could give his teammates a boost as they look to become the first opponent to beat the NBA-leading Lakers twice at Staples Center this season.

The deadline was still a few weeks away last season when Los Angeles acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis for two players and two draft picks on Feb. 1, 2008, and the Spanish center did not disappoint, helping the team advance to the NBA finals.

With Gasol's 18.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game complementing another stellar season from Kobe Bryant, the Lakers (44-10) have surged back to the top of the standings. Even though center Andrew Bynum is out for an extensive time with a knee injury for the second straight season, Los Angeles made only minor deals before the deadline as it prepares to chase the franchise's 15th NBA title.

The Lakers haven't needed any help lately, winning nine of their last 10. They opened the second half with victories on back-to-back nights over Atlanta and Golden State, using a late 17-3 run to beat the Warriors 129-121 on Wednesday.

Playing at Golden State's typical fast pace, Los Angeles had 33 assists - two off its season high.

"We just shared the ball, and every time you play that way, it's rewarding," Lakers center Josh Powell said.

New Orleans point guard Chris Paul is among the league's best at sharing the ball, but Chandler has been the one in the spotlight this week without even playing. The Hornets (32-20) initially traded their center to Oklahoma City for financial reasons, but the Thunder voided the deal when Chandler did not pass his physical due to a toe issue.

Chandler, who has 11 double-doubles in 32 games this season, hasn't played since Jan. 19 because of an ankle injury. Still, New Orleans' players were happy to hear that the trade fell through, hoping he will solidify the team's front line down the stretch.

"I'm excited to have T.C. back," Paul said. "I think it will give us a huge lift. Hopefully it will bring us closer together. You know, T.C. is family to us, so there won't be any animosity when he comes in here and he understands what's been the goal all along."

With Paul also missing some time due to a groin injury, the Hornets had dropped six of eight going into last weekend's All-Star break. But they won back-to-back games over Oklahoma City and Orlando this week, getting 36 points and 10 assists from Paul in Wednesday night's impressive 117-85 win over the Magic.

"Me and (David West) talked about it before the game last night - if we go down, we've got to go down fighting," Paul said. "Any time you see the rim you've got to shoot it. You can't pass up shots and stuff like that. We just have to be aggressive and see where it takes us."

After losing twice at home to the Lakers earlier this season, the Hornets beat them 116-105 on Jan. 6 at Staples Center. West tied a career-high with 40 points and pulled down 11 rebounds while Paul had 32 points and 15 assists.

The Lakers' 25-4 home record is the West's best.