Half: Lakers 57, Hornets 41

The Lakers worked over the New Orleans Hornets from the outside and the inside in the first half tonight at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant scored 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting and Pau gasol added 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting and nine rebounds. Carl Landry had a team-leading 13 points for New Orleans. The Lakers led by as many as 18 points just before halftime. There was even a Joe Smith sighting, which meant the Lakers were way ahead and/or Andrew Bynum was in foul trouble. They were way ahead and Bynum had three fouls and went to the bench late in the second quarter.