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Western Conference powers meet as Hornets host Lakers

Nov 12, 2008 - 11:26 AM LA Lakers (6-0) at New Orleans (4-2) 8:00 pm. EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers look to stay unbeaten on Wednesday when they visit Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets in a matchup of two of the best teams in the Western Conference.

Bryant scored nine of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Lakers improve to 6-0 for the first time since 2001-02 with a 106-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

The Lakers took the defending champion Boston Celtics to six games in the Finals in June, and appear to be ready to make another title run. Los Angeles has not started 7-0 since 2001-02. That season ended with the Lakers hoisting their third Larry O'Brien Trophy in as many years.

If this season is going to end the same way, the Hornets will likely be one of the teams the Lakers will have to go through.

Led by Paul, New Orleans finished as the No. 2 seed behind Los Angeles last season. This season, the Hornets are a popular pick to reach the Western Conference finals. And if Paul keeps this pace up he may help New Orleans fulfill its potential.

Paul recorded 21 points and 13 assists in a 100-89 win over Miami on Saturday - his sixth straight double-double of at least 20 points and 10 assists to open a season. The fourth-year point guard broke the record set by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in 1968.

Paul averaged 23.2 points and 15 assists in helping the Hornets win three of the four meetings last season. One of the more memorable games came almost a year to this date. Paul recorded 19 points and a franchise-record 21 assists in a 118-104 win on November 7, 2007.

Bryant averaged 28.0 points against New Orleans last season.