Recap: Lakers Improve To 15-1 Since All-Star Break
LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol had 23 points and 16 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers inched closer to the top of the overall NBA standings with their 15th win in 16 games since the All-Star break, 102-84 over the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night.
Andrew Bynum added 13 points in the Lakers' seventh straight win. The two-time defending NBA champions jumped to an 18-point lead in the first half and weathered the Hornets' fourth-quarter rally to sweep the four-game season series with a possible first-round playoff opponent.
Carl Landry had a season-high 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Chris Paul had 10 points and nine assists in the Hornets' second game without injured scoring leader David West.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
