Hornets 113, Lakers 103

mets2k · January 20th, 2007, 09:35 PM

Congrats Hornets!

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- David West had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Rasual Butler outshot Kobe Bryant down the stretch to lead the New Orleans Hornets to a 113-103 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.

Bryant overcame a slow start to finish with 23 points, but it was Butler who came up with the big plays in crunch time.

Butler gave New Orleans a 102-96 lead when he came around a screen and drilled a 3-pointer over Bryant from the top of the key. Bryant answered at the other end, but then got blocked by Butler on a drive to the basket the next time the Lakers had the ball.

Butler rushed back downcourt for a 3-pointer from the right side, and after a missed 3-pointer by Bryant, West nailed a jumper from the left side for a 107-99 Hornets lead.

Bryant tipped in his own miss on Los Angeles' next trip to cut the deficit to six, but that was as close as the Lakers could get.

After Bryant blocked Desmond Mason's shot, West rescued the Hornets with a jumper for a 111-103 lead, and Bobby Jackson provided the finishing touches by stripping Bryant and racing downcourt for a layup.

West racked up his second straight double-double after missing the past two months with an injured right elbow, and Butler added 20 points. The Hornets had six players in double figures to win for the first time in 11 games when they allowed 100 points or more.

Maurice Evans scored a career-high 23 points for Los Angeles, and Smush Parker added 13.

Bryant scored 20 points in the second half after going 0-for-3 in the opening half with three free throws. It was the second time this month that Bryant didn't make a field goal in the first half. He also didn't make a basket before halftime in a 123-104 victory over Denver on Jan. 5, when he finished with a season-low eight points and 10 assists.

The Lakers host Golden State in their next game Monday -- the one-year anniversary of Bryant's career-best 81-point performance last season against Toronto.

With four reserves and Luke Walton on the floor, the Lakers scored six straight points to take an 88-87 lead on Jordan Farmar's jumper from the left baseline. It was the only time Los Angeles had the lead in the second half, as the Hornets answered with seven points in a row to take a 94-88 edge on West's tip-in of a miss by Linton Johnson.

West scored 10 points in the Hornets' 20-7 run at the end of the first half, including two free throws that put New Orleans up 59-51 at the break.

The Hornets added seven straight points for a 66-53 lead early in the second half before Los Angeles started coming back.

Bryant had eight points during a 12-3 response for the Lakers that ended when Bryant was called for a technical foul after finishing a fast break with a layup.

Bryant then turned to his teammates, setting up Parker's 3-pointer from the right wing that closed the deficit to 78-77 before missing a driving layup that would've put the Lakers ahead.

Los Angeles made its first eight shots and opened a 17-10 lead after Bryant assisted on three straight baskets during an 11-2 run. West hit back-to-back baskets as the Hornets rallied to tie it at 19.

January 20th, 2007, 09:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
mets2k Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 429	Hornets 113, Lakers 103 Congrats Hornets! OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- David West had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Rasual Butler outshot Kobe Bryant down the stretch to lead the New Orleans Hornets to a 113-103 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Bryant overcame a slow start to finish with 23 points, but it was Butler who came up with the big plays in crunch time. Butler gave New Orleans a 102-96 lead when he came around a screen and drilled a 3-pointer over Bryant from the top of the key. Bryant answered at the other end, but then got blocked by Butler on a drive to the basket the next time the Lakers had the ball. Butler rushed back downcourt for a 3-pointer from the right side, and after a missed 3-pointer by Bryant, West nailed a jumper from the left side for a 107-99 Hornets lead. Bryant tipped in his own miss on Los Angeles' next trip to cut the deficit to six, but that was as close as the Lakers could get. After Bryant blocked Desmond Mason's shot, West rescued the Hornets with a jumper for a 111-103 lead, and Bobby Jackson provided the finishing touches by stripping Bryant and racing downcourt for a layup. West racked up his second straight double-double after missing the past two months with an injured right elbow, and Butler added 20 points. The Hornets had six players in double figures to win for the first time in 11 games when they allowed 100 points or more. Maurice Evans scored a career-high 23 points for Los Angeles, and Smush Parker added 13. Bryant scored 20 points in the second half after going 0-for-3 in the opening half with three free throws. It was the second time this month that Bryant didn't make a field goal in the first half. He also didn't make a basket before halftime in a 123-104 victory over Denver on Jan. 5, when he finished with a season-low eight points and 10 assists. The Lakers host Golden State in their next game Monday -- the one-year anniversary of Bryant's career-best 81-point performance last season against Toronto. With four reserves and Luke Walton on the floor, the Lakers scored six straight points to take an 88-87 lead on Jordan Farmar's jumper from the left baseline. It was the only time Los Angeles had the lead in the second half, as the Hornets answered with seven points in a row to take a 94-88 edge on West's tip-in of a miss by Linton Johnson. West scored 10 points in the Hornets' 20-7 run at the end of the first half, including two free throws that put New Orleans up 59-51 at the break. The Hornets added seven straight points for a 66-53 lead early in the second half before Los Angeles started coming back. Bryant had eight points during a 12-3 response for the Lakers that ended when Bryant was called for a technical foul after finishing a fast break with a layup. Bryant then turned to his teammates, setting up Parker's 3-pointer from the right wing that closed the deficit to 78-77 before missing a driving layup that would've put the Lakers ahead. Los Angeles made its first eight shots and opened a 17-10 lead after Bryant assisted on three straight baskets during an 11-2 run. West hit back-to-back baskets as the Hornets rallied to tie it at 19.