Short-handed Lakers handle Hornets

• By The Associated Press
• Published: Nov 9, 2009

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant scored 28 points, Shannon Brown added 15 and the Los Angeles Lakers thrived again without their top two big men, beating the New Orleans Hornets 104-88 Sunday night.

DJ Mbenga had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who easily won their fifth straight game and their second in a row without injured center Andrew Bynum and forward Pau Gasol.

Bryant scored all but two of his points before halftime, repeatedly capitalizing down low with ease against Devin Brown’s defense. Los Angeles opened a 27-point lead in the third quarter and coasted to a 6-1 start.

Chris Paul had 15 points and nine assists for the Hornets, who made just 36.5 percent of their shots while opening a three-game West Coast road trip with their fourth loss in five games.

After leading by 17 points during the first half, Los Angeles opened the second half on a 17-3 run with two 3-pointers from Shannon Brown.

New Orleans coach Byron Scott began the trip by bumping shooting guard Morris Peterson from the starting lineup in favor of Devin Brown, who had played just eight minutes all season. Peterson started the Hornets’ first six games, but made just 34.1 percent of his shots while playing defense that didn’t please Scott.

“I thought it was important for these guys to know that I’m not just going to sit there and let things go the wrong way,” Scott said.

Immediately after the opening tip, Devin Brown turned the ball over to Bryant for a drive and a dunk.

Thunder 102, Magic 74: Kevin Durant scored 28 points, Russell Westbrook added 17 points and 10 assists for the host Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dwight Howard led the Magic with 20 points.

BLAZERS 116, TIMBERWOLVES 93: Andre Miller scored 21 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw each had 19 as the host Portland Trailblazers built a big first-half lead.

Minnesota had five players in double figures, led by Nathan Jawai with 16 points.

KINGS 120, WARRIORS 107: Rookie Tyreke Evans scored 18 of his 23 points in the second quarter and host Sacramento beat Golden State to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly a year.