Hornets Record 3 Double-Doubles Sting Lakers 108-98

Chris Paul, David West, and Tyson Chandler each recorded double-doubles as the New Orleans Hornets knocked off the LA Lakers Friday night 108-98. More troubling of the loss of the game, or even of sole possession of first place in the Western Conference was the loss of their center Pau Gasol. Gasol left New Orleans Arena on crutches after spraining his left ankle in the first quarter. Gasol said after the game that the ankle had swollen quite a bit and he would have to see how it felt in the morning. The Hornets also lost West when he sprained his right ankle with 7 minutes left in the game.

New Orleans had a slim lead at the end of the first quarter as they led the Lakers 23-21. But Los Angeles bounced back in the second quarter as they scored 28 points, and took a 49-46 lead into the locker room as the game reached the half. New Orleans took control of the game in the third quarter, as they led going into the final period 80-72. Sasha Vujacic brought L.A. within 4 points as he hit an outside shot to make it 80-76 with 11:03 remaining. But a Julian Wright trey put the Hornets up 83-76 seconds later, and the Lakers could never really rally the rest of the game.

Chris Paul led the Hornets with 27 points, 17 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals in the New Orleans victory. Peja Stojakovic scored 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, Tyson Chandler had another monster night scoring 14 points, grabbing 20 boards, 2 blocks, 2 assists. West scored 12 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 1 steal, Jannero Pargo scored 11 points off the bench, 2 assists, 2 rebounds.

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 36 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal. Lamar Odom scored 15 points, 13 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, Vladimir Radmanovic scored 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist. Jordan Farmar scored 12 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 rebound, Derek Fisher scored 10 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 rebounds. The Hornets are now 44-20, L.A. falls to 45-20 tied atop the Western Conference with their opponent on Sunday the Houston Rockets.