The Lakers were feeling a little better. Going into this game, they had won their last two games. First, they beat the Utah Jazz on Friday. And then last Sunday, they upset the Oklahoma City Thunder in easily their biggest win of the season. Their record going into their game on Tuesday night was 19-25. Still a long way to go, but the past two games were a good start.
The New Orleans Hornets came into Staples Center with a 15-29 record. But in the last 12 games, they had gone 8-4. They beat Memphis last Sunday.
But the Lakers got some additional help. Point guard Steve Blake made his return. He had been since November with an abdominal injury. How did he do? And how did the Lakers do? Let’s check out the recap.
1ST QUARTER
The Lakers got off to some pretty good shooting. And Kobe Bryant continued his facilitating. The problem was that the Hornets played better. They took advantage of the Lakers’ weak transition defense. It was 16-12, Hornets, halfway through the first.
Pelicans please do not mess up the narrative here thanks. Jeez.
— David Murphy (@davem234) January 30, 2013
Then there was some defense played by the Lakers. Dwight Howard picked Robin Lopez’s pocket and was rewarded with an easy dunk at the end of that fastbreak.
While the Lakers looked nice on offense, they couldn’t stop the Hornets from making three-pointers. Eric Gordon made 3-4 from behind the arc. The Hornets kept pressuring and double-teaming Kobe Bryant every chance they got but the Lakers made them pay whether it’s an open lane for a fingerroll or a three-pointer.
The Lakers led the future Pelicans, 25-24.
2ND QUARTER
Jodie Meeks came off the bench and immediately hit two three-pointers. In fact, the Lakers played some of their best offense this season. The passing seemed contagious. Even Melissa Rohlin of the Los Angeles Times noticed…
When everyone was analyzing what was wrong with the Lakers, who would’ve thought that the answer was simple. Passing.
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) January 30, 2013
And this is one of the passes we’re talking about.
The Lakers ran off a 17-0 run while the Hornets missed 14 straight field goal attempts. And it was really nice to see the ball being moved around. In the Lakers’ 20 field goals made in the first half, 17 of them were assisted.
The Hornets did have a quick 8-0 run to end the quarter before the Lakers countered with a Kobe tip-in.
At the end of the second quarter, the Lakers led the Hornets, 54-42.
3RD QUARTER
The passing continued in the third quarter. Earl Clark continued his good play by scoring a long corner two to bring his total to 10 points.
How about that Earl Clark huh
— Lei Solito (@heyitslei) January 30, 2013
Like I said, the passing continued in the third quarter. Look at this teamwork.
But the Hornets made a little run. Anthony Davis had back-to-back dunks. Hornets were able to cut the lead down to nine points. The Lakers had some opportunities to keep the Hornets away but Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol missed five straight free throws combined.
New Orleans was able to cut the lead down to four before a defensive play by Jodie Meeks snuffed the Hornets rally. The play ended with a Meeks dunk.
Later on, Jamison was able to make a big three to put the lead back to double digits. The Lakers had an 83-73 lead going into the fourth quarter.
4TH QUARTER
The passing continued. The three-pointers continued. The Lakers were able to build the lead to 91-75 after another Earl Clark triple.
Earl Clark >>>>
— JP (@J24MU) January 30, 2013
Earl Clark is earning himself a big pay check in the offseason.
— Marwan Polus (@TLN24) January 30, 2013
In a nutshell, the Lakers bench is killing the Pelicans.
— Eddie Maisonet, III (@edthesportsfan) January 30, 2013
One more tweet from Melissa…
Yeah, so, um….Nash has more rebounds than Howard. Howard has more points than Kobe. Kobe has more assists than Nash.
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) January 30, 2013
We all thought it was done until the Hornets stormed back with a 16-2 run. They cut the lead to 100-96 after a huge Ryan Anderson three. It’s pretty funny because the Hornets cut the lead down after Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash returned to the game.
It became even more closer than what the Lakers wanted. The Hornets cut the lead down to 102-101. But a few moments later, Steve Nash made a three to put the Lakers up six. After Eric Gordon countered with his own three, Antawn Jamison made a lay-up to basically clinch the game.
Lakers beat the Hornets, 111-106. L.A. has won three straight games and went to 20-25. The Lakers had 34 assists on 39 made field goals, easily a season-high in team dimes.
STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Dwight Howard, 24
REBOUNDS: Earl Clark, 12
ASSISTS: Kobe Bryant, 11
BLOCKS: Dwight Howard, 4
STEALS: Dwight Howard, 5
