Lakers 88 - 93 Pelicans
Final
  for this game

Lakers shoot for 3-1 series lead in New Orleans

Apr 24, 2011 - 2:40 PM (Sports Network) - After losing the opener of their Western Conference quarterfinals set with upstart New Orleans, the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers have responded with two straight wins.

Los Angeles will now have an opportunity to seize control of the series in Game 4, set for the Big Easy on Easter Sunday.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol came alive for 17 and the Lakers pulled away for a 100-86 win over New Orleans to take a 2-1 lead in the series on Friday.

The Hornets have now dropped two straight since surprising the Lakers to take Game 1. Although Game 3 wasn't out of reach until the fourth quarter, the Hornets never had a lead after Chris Paul's layup made it 6-4.

"We just couldn't get to a point to where we were in striking distance," Hornets guard Jarrett Jack said. "I thought we were able to close it to five, but every time we got there they would make a play and extend the lead. They withstood all of our attempts to make a run, that's why they are the two-time defending champions."

Paul scored just four of his 22 points in the second half as New Orleans went down. Carl Landry led the Hornets with 23 points, Emeka Okafor scored 15 and ex-Laker Trevor Ariza had 12.

The difference for LA -- besides Bryant dropping 30 on 10-of-20 shooting -- may have been Gasol. The Lakers finally got some production out of their star forward after he went a combined 4-of-19 for 16 points in Games 1 and 2.

Gasol shot 7-of-13, adding 10 rebounds, and scored 13 of his points in the second half, including seven during a key run in the fourth quarter.

"Pau helped open things up," said Bryant.

The Lakers also got 14 points and 11 rebounds from Andrew Bynum while Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom had 13 points and nine boards off the bench.

They shot nearly 49 percent and pulled down 14 offensive rebounds, scoring 17 second-chance points. They committed 13 turnovers, leading to 17 New Orleans points, but forced the Hornets into 14 giveaways for 16 points.

"They've rebounded the ball well," Hornets head coach Monty Williams said of the Lakers. "We've forced stops and we are not able to get the rebound. ... They have a lot of things in their favor -- the length, they are probably a lot bigger than we are, but the rebounding to a degree is about attitude and we just have to believe we can get those rebounds. I think it will make our game a lot easier."

Paul showed up at practice Saturday with a wrap around his thumb but downplayed the injury.

"We've got more stuff to worry about than my thumb " the All-Star said.

The Lakers swept four meetings with the Hornets in the regular season. The two teams have never met in the postseason previously.

Game 5 of the series will be back in Hollywood on Tuesday.






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