Pelicans 90 - 106 Lakers
Final
  for this game

Lakers and Hornets return to LA for pivotal Game 5

Apr 26, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - A pivotal Game 5 in the Western Conference quarterfinals looms tonight in Hollywood as the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers host the upstart New Orleans Hornets.

The Hornets evened the series on Sunday when Chris Paul capped his triple- double with an assist on Jarrett Jack's big jumper with 9.3 seconds remaining, as New Orleans held off the Lakers, 93-88.

Jack followed up his jumper with three free throws to account for his only five points of the game for the Hornets, who bounced back from a 100-86 loss on Friday to even the series at 2-2.

Paul recorded 27 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which got 19 points and six boards from Trevor Ariza. Carl Landry tallied 16 points and seven rebounds.

"Chris Paul, that was one of the better performances I've ever seen in the playoffs," Hornets head coach Monty Williams said. "A lot of guys have performances where they score. He scored. He dished it out. He rebounded. He made tough, tenacious plays."

Paul, who also decimated Los Angeles with 33 points and 14 assists in Game 1, is averaging 25.5 points, 11.5 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game in the series and his triple-double was the first ever against the Lakers in the franchise's 712 postseason games.

"We've been talking about being strong and courageous since the playoffs started about our guys fighting for everything that we're going to receive, we've got to take it," Williams said.

Despite rolling his left ankle late in the fourth quarter Kobe Bryant finished with 17 points, eight assists and six boards for the Lakers, who got 16 points apiece from Ron Artest and Pau Gasol.

"Well, it's a series now," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said. "We punked out there on the court tonight."

Bryant received treatment on the Lakers flight home after the loss in Game 4 but has refused treatment since and plans to play tonight.

"He says he'll play," Jackson said when asked about Bryant's status Monday. "He won't let them [the medical staff] deal with it. Doesn't matter, he's going to play tomorrow. That's his attitude."

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

Game 6 of the series will be back in New Orleans on Thursday.






Related News