Hornets at Lakers
THE STORY: If the Los Angeles Lakers do not find a way to contain Chris Paul, they could become the victims of a huge upset. The Lakers, who may be without Kobe Bryant at full strength, host the New Orleans Hornets in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series Tuesday. The series is tied 2-2. Paul dribbled past the Lakers and had them literally turning in circles in the Hornets' 93-88 victory in Game 4 Sunday night as he recorded his second playoff triple-double with a fabulous 27 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds. Bryant, who injured what he said was more his left foot than ankle late in the game, was scoreless in the first half and finished with 17 points.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT, Fox Sports West
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Bryant's injury occurred with 1:32 remaining, but he returned to the game. He
received treatment afterward and left the arena on crutches. Bryant refused to have an MRI Monday. “It's going to
take a lot to stop me to play (in Game 5),” Bryant said. Frustrated is the best word to describe the Lakers in Game 4. They seemed to keep getting caught in mismatches against Paul with Andrew Bynum guarding him at least three times. Pau Gasol’s prowess was missing again (16 points, four rebounds) and Lamar Odom (six points on 1-of-7 shooting) had his worst game of the playoffs. The Lakers know they have to return to New Orleans for Game 6 Thursday instead of having a chance to close out the series Tuesday at home.
ABOUT THE HORNETS: Paul certainly did not seem headed for his monster performance early in Game 4. He took an elbow from Ron Artest that cut him above his eye and had four first-half points. He finished with 23 second-half points but perhaps his biggest contribution was finding teammate Jarrett Jack with 9.3 seconds remaining for a short jumper in the lane that put the Hornets up 90-86. “Kobe played good D and was on my right side and I didn't have a shot,” Paul said. “I thank the Lord I (saw) J. Jack out of the corner of my eye.” Trevor Ariza scored 19 and Carl Landry continued his steady playoff run with 16 points and seven rebounds.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Ariza scored 16 first-half points on 8-for-12 shooting in the first half and helped carry the Hornets before Paul got going. Bryant was 0-for-7 from the field in the first half and finished 5-for-18.
KEY STATISTIC: The Hornets buried the Lakers in second-chance points 20-4 and also outrebounded them 39-32.
LAST WORD: “He's like any great player. Once he gets going and on a roll it's tough to contain him. He was just all over the place tonight. That's just a bad little dude.” – Bryant on Paul.