LOS ANGELES — After conquering Steve Nash and surviving Deron Williams, the Lakers had no answers for Chris Paul.
Behind Paul, New Orleans’ silky point guard, the Hornets dropped the Lakers to 2-2 this season with total second-half dominance at Staples Center on Tuesday night. Paul’s 21 assists and Peja Stojakovic’s 10 three-pointers were Hornets records. Paul had 19 points, and Stojakovic had 36; New Orleans improved to 4-0.
Kobe Bryant (28 points, six rebounds, seven assists) played well for the Lakers, but he never left his imprint on the game the way Paul did in the fourth quarter and Stojakovic did in the third.
NOTES
Maurice Evans didn’t play because of back pain and plans to rest until next Tuesday night in San Antonio. … Kwame Brown hopes to play Friday night against Minnesota despite a flare-up of bursitis in his right heel. … Lakers coach Phil Jackson predicted Lamar Odom (shoulder) would play Friday night also.
QUOTABLE
Brown, who has a sore right heel now, said about his surgically repaired left ankle, on which he wears a brace in games: “I run a little differently because of the brace.”
WHAT WAS HE THINKING?
Vladimir Radmanovic seemed more interested in shooting back at Stojakovic than stopping him late in the third quarter when Stojakovic was on fire from three-point range.
KEY PLAY
With 3:26 to play, Paul flashed by Derek Fisher into the lane and drew a foul on Bryant while hitting a shot. The three-point play gave the Hornets a 105-96 lead and continued Paul’s game-long dominance.
NEXT
Minnesota at Lakers, Friday, 7:30 p.m., FSN, KLAC/570
I am not encouraged by Kwame’s injuries already. It seems he has lingering injuries which don’t look serious in the outset, but somehow keep him out longer than expected. He played only 41 games last season and we can not afford to miss him for too many games this season if we are to have much success.