Twist and Shout

April 26, 2011

By Anthony CinQue Carter

HGSTAR1NEWS

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 22-0 in Game 5s at home in the Phil Jackson / Kobe Bryant era with a 106-90 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday.

Kobe Bryant overcame an injured ankle to lead six Lakers in double figures with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting.

"That's what he does," said Hornets coach Monty Williams. "All this talk about his ankle. Did it look like his ankle was hurting? Okay then."

Andrew Bynum secured another double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Bynum’s five offensive rebounds were more than the Hornets’ total of three.

Westchester High School and UCLA product, Trevor Ariza, led New Orleans with 22 points. Hornets guard Chris Paul shot 50% for his 20 points, while adding 12 assists.

Los Angeles managed to outduel the Hornets 22-2 when it came to second-chance points after losing the battle by 16 in Game 4. The Lakers also netted a 42-25 rebounding edge.      

"They got 15 offensive rebounds," Ariza said. "They were in the paint all day. They were more aggressive, and they took it to us. They played well. There's nothing that we can say."

New Orleans had its largest lead at the end of the first quarter at 32-23 on two Jarrett Jack free throws. However, the Lakers took the lead for good at 48-46 on a Bryant runner with 1:42 remaining in the first half.

"He's an incredible athlete, so that injury isn't going to stop him," said Ron Artest of Bryant, who tallied 11 points. "He was ready to go, and that got us going.”

The Lakers now take a 3-2 series lead back to New Orleans for Game 6 on Thursday.

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