Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out eight assists as the Los Angeles Lakers withstood a number of New Orleans comebacks to lock up the Pacific Division title with a 107-104 victory over the Hornets at the Staples Center.
Pau Gasol went for 25 points and six boards, and the Lakers (55-25) moved to within a half-game of the Hornets for the top seed in the Western Conference. By virtue of Phoenix's loss to Houston earlier Friday, they also clinched their first division title since 2003-04.
"We were aggressive early, and we executed on offense," Gasol said. "We're happy with the win and happy we held off their run. It feels good to win the division, but we also know the importance of the two games we have left."
Peja Stojakovic hit six three-pointers en route to 24 points, while Chris Paul dished out a game-high 17 assists to go with 15 points. New Orleans (55-24) dug itself an enormous first-half hole, and simply ran out of gas on the way to having its Southwest Division lead over Houston and San Antonio trimmed to one game.
Up 30 in the second quarter, 20 at the half and 15 early in the fourth, the Lakers suddenly found themselves ahead by just one after Stojakovic buried his final three to make it 96-95 with nearly four minutes still to go.
After a pair of Ronny Turiaf free throws though, Derek Fisher nailed a key three from the corner to make it a six-point game, and Paul then committed an ill-timed turnover that led to a Bryant free throw with 2:39 remaining. LA came up with a pair of stops on the next two Hornets possessions, with Gasol swatting David West's shot, and Lamar Odom stripping West in the backcourt.
Jannero Pargo hit a foul-line jumper in transition to cut the Hornets deficit to 102-97, but Gasol dropped in a baby hook, forcing a Hornets timeout with 1:10 left. West hit an elbow jumper, but Bryant, defended by a slower Stojakovic, attacked the rim at the other end and earned a pair of free throws that ultimately iced New Orleans' fate with about 45 ticks on the clock.
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Pau Gasol went for 25 points and six boards, and the Lakers (55-25) moved to within a half-game of the Hornets for the top seed in the Western Conference. By virtue of Phoenix's loss to Houston earlier Friday, they also clinched their first division title since 2003-04.
"We were aggressive early, and we executed on offense," Gasol said. "We're happy with the win and happy we held off their run. It feels good to win the division, but we also know the importance of the two games we have left."
Peja Stojakovic hit six three-pointers en route to 24 points, while Chris Paul dished out a game-high 17 assists to go with 15 points. New Orleans (55-24) dug itself an enormous first-half hole, and simply ran out of gas on the way to having its Southwest Division lead over Houston and San Antonio trimmed to one game.
Up 30 in the second quarter, 20 at the half and 15 early in the fourth, the Lakers suddenly found themselves ahead by just one after Stojakovic buried his final three to make it 96-95 with nearly four minutes still to go.
After a pair of Ronny Turiaf free throws though, Derek Fisher nailed a key three from the corner to make it a six-point game, and Paul then committed an ill-timed turnover that led to a Bryant free throw with 2:39 remaining. LA came up with a pair of stops on the next two Hornets possessions, with Gasol swatting David West's shot, and Lamar Odom stripping West in the backcourt.
Jannero Pargo hit a foul-line jumper in transition to cut the Hornets deficit to 102-97, but Gasol dropped in a baby hook, forcing a Hornets timeout with 1:10 left. West hit an elbow jumper, but Bryant, defended by a slower Stojakovic, attacked the rim at the other end and earned a pair of free throws that ultimately iced New Orleans' fate with about 45 ticks on the clock.
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