GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: NEW ORLEANS (3-0) at LA LAKERS (2-1)

NBA: NEW ORLEANS (3-0) at LA LAKERS (2-1)

<h3>Hornets look to continue early success vs. Lakers</h3>

<div class="pre">New Orleans (3-0) at LA Lakers (2-1) 10:30 pm EST</div>

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Quick starts are becoming a pattern forthe New Orleans Hornets.


The Hornets look to match their franchise-best start on Tuesdaywhen they travel to the Staples Center to meet the Los AngelesLakers.


On Sunday, New Orleans posted a 93-88 victory over Denver tomove within one victory of matching the franchise's best start,set last season.


They can attribute both successes to a defense that is allowing90.3 points through three games, coincidentally, the sameaverage the Hornets yielded during their four-game streak tostart last season.


New Orleans took two of three contests between the teams lastseason to win its first season series with the Lakers since1995-96, when the team was still based in Charlotte.

If the Hornets want to match last season's quick start, theywill need to solve Los Angeles' high-octane attack. The Lakers'have scored 119 points in each of their first two games - winsover the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz - in large part because theyare shooting a league-best 51.7 percent from the field.

As usual, two-time NBA scoring champion Kobe Bryant is front andcenter, averaging 31.3 points and eight rebounds this season.

In his last appearance against the Hornets, Bryant scored 50points in a 111-105 victory on March 23 - the fourth straightgame he had at least 50 - joining Wilt Chamberlain as the onlyplayers in league history to accomplish the feat.

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS VS LA LAKERS - INACTIVES

NEW ORLEANS LA LAKERS

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
A HALUSKA COACH'S DECISION L ODOM SHOULDER
M VINICIUS COACH'S DECISION M EVANS BACK MUSCLE STRAIN
K BROWN HEEL INJURY</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS AT LA LAKERS - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


NEW ORLEANS LA LAKERS

F Peja Stojakovic F Ronny Turiaf
F David West F Luke Walton
C Tyson Chandler C Chris Mihm
G Morris Peterson G Kobe Bryant
G Chris Paul G Derek Fisher

OFFICIALS: Mike Callahan
Tony Brothers
Tony Brown</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 9
LA LAKERS 4 8:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 18
LA LAKERS 8 6:02 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 22
LA LAKERS 17 2:59 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 32
LA LAKERS 22 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 32 32
LA LAKERS 22 22 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 10, DAVID WEST 8, MORRIS
PETERSON 5
LAL - RONNY TURIAF 7, KOBE BRYANT 4, DEREK
FISHER 4</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 36
LA LAKERS 29 8:51 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 44
LA LAKERS 35 5:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 51
LA LAKERS 45 2:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 57
LA LAKERS 55 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 32 25 57
LA LAKERS 22 33 55 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 13, DAVID WEST 10, CHRIS
PAUL 8
LAL - KOBE BRYANT 11, RONNY TURIAF 9, VLADIMIR
RADMANOVIC 6</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 63
LA LAKERS 64 8:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 68
LA LAKERS 70 5:46 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 78
LA LAKERS 75 2:45 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 89
LA LAKERS 80 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 32 25 32 89
LA LAKERS 22 33 25 80 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 30, DAVID WEST 17, CHRIS
PAUL 10
LAL - KOBE BRYANT 21, RONNY TURIAF 11, DEREK
FISHER 9</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 91
LA LAKERS 87 9:07 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 108
LA LAKERS 96 3:05 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>