Preview: Lakers in New Orleans

The Lakers visit New Orleans for the 2nd time this year, hoping for a similar outcome of their last meeting.

Kobe Bryant, LAL SG

The Lakers defeated the Hornets, 109-80 the previous time they met. Kobe Bryant scored 19 pooints, but it was Andrew Bynum who led the way with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocked shots. The Lakers are now without Andrew Bynum, but are with Pau Gasol who has averaged 18 points, roughly 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks per game in 19 career games against the Hornets.

Los Angeles is coming off of a 117-108 victory over the Raptors. Kobe Bryant scored 34 points with Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher each scoring in double figures.

The Lakers will travel to Houston Sunday for the 2nd game of their road trip, rounding the trip out with games in Dallas and Utah.

Said Phil Jackson on the road trip, “I told them basically we aren’t going to beat any of those teams if we play like we have played the last two or three games.”

The Lakers continue to win, but by a smaller margian. “I think that we’re shooting the ball pretty well, but I think our activity level is down,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “Some of our players look tired, leg-weary. That’s part of the March doldrums you get in this game because of the amount of games that you’ve played.”

The Lakers have split their 2 meetings with New Orleans this season.

Hornets Starting 5: