Half: Lakers 51, Hornets 46

Kobe Bryant scored 14 points in the first half tonight against the New Orleans Hornets, one shy of tying Oscar Robertson for ninth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 26,710 points. The Lakers were halfway to their third consecutive victory and their fifth in six games. They led by a modest margin for most of the half after shooting 60.6 percent (20-for-33). Pau Gasol added 11 points and Andrew Bynum had 10. Former Laker Trevor Ariza scored 12 for the Hornets. DJ Mbenga received a standing ovation when Bryant and Derek Fisher presented him with his championship game before the game.