NEW ORLEANS // All-Stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined to score 66 points and lead the twice defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-95 win against the New Orleans Hornets last night.
The Lakers squandered a 14-point lead in the third quarter but fought back in the last four minutes of the game, outscoring the Hornets 9-3 in that span to secure the victory at New Orleans Arena.
The Hornets trailed from the opening basket until Chris Paul drained a three-point shot as time expired in the third quarter to put the home team ahead 82-81.
Spanish center Gasol scored a season-high 34 points and Bryant added 32, including a key three-pointer with 3:20 remaining to give the Lakers the lead for good.
Paul led the Hornets with 21 points, Delonte West added 16 and the Hornets bench scored 39 points including 14 by Marcus Thornton.
OTHER RESULTS
Atlanta 99 Washington 92
Dallas 101 Charlotte 92
Portland 111 Cleveland 105
LA Lakers 101 New Orleans 95
Detroit 89 Milwaukee 78
Denver 113 Minnesota 100