Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets | featured news

Kobe Bryant fueled a desperate rally with 23 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Hornets 104-96 on Tuesday night to keep their playoff hopes alive.

NBA teams went back to work Friday, which for Chris Paul meant going back to New Orleans. And there was disbelief and anger around the league - and a commitment to try again to find him a new home.

An epic trade that would have made Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant teammates in Los Angeles was vetoed Thursday night by N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern in a decision that rocked the league just as it emerged from a five-month lockout... New Orleans would have received Lamar Odom from the Lakers, and Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Goran Dragic from the Rockets. Martin is among the league’s top scorers, Odom is a versatile big man and Scola is a skilled and rugged power forward. In addition, the Hornets would have received the Knicks’ first-round draft pick in 2012, which the Rockets acquired in a previous trade. Houston would have received Pau Gasol from the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 24 points in the first three quarters, then let his Lakers teammates take over in a dominant 98-80 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday night that wrapped up the series for Los Angeles in six games.

Kobe Bryant shrugged off his ankle injury, becoming a dominant force as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

PBT: Kobe Bryant refused an MRI or X-ray on his ankle and plans to play in Game 5. That's admirable, but not if he does more damage.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol snapped out of his playoff funk with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers took control of their first-round playoff series with a 100-86 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.

Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Lamar Odom scored 16 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers survived poor games from their two biggest stars to even their first-round playoff series with an 87-78 victory over the New Orleans Hornets in Game 2 on Wednesday night.

Chris Paul ran circles around the Los Angeles Lakers in a scintillating performance to lead his New Orleans Hornets to a 109-100 upset victory over the defending champions in their NBA playoff series opener Sunday.

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