Lakers, Hornets clash at Staples Center

The Lakers are No. 7 in the Western Conference playoff race, while the Hornets are two games behind Sacramento for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Los Angeles has won three in a row and plays the third of a four-game homestand. On Friday, Kobe Bryant scored 43 points as the Lakers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 101-96, at the Staples Center.

Lamar Odom had 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Kwame Brown added 16 points and nine rebounds in the win over Milwaukee for the Lakers. Smush Parker ended with 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in the victory.

The Lakers are 20-13 as the host this season. They will play Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday at the Staples Center.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City plays the second of a four-game road trip. On Friday, Ben Gordon scored 25 points off the bench as the Chicago Bulls overcame an early deficit to defeat the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 96-82, at the United Center.

Seven different Hornets scored in double figures in the loss to Chicago. Rookie Chris Paul led the way with 13 points, while David West, P.J. Brown and Linton Johnson all netted 11 for the Hornets, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games overall.

The Hornets, who will visit Utah on Monday and Golden State on Wednesday, are 12-20 at the visitor this season.

This is the third meeting of the season between the clubs. In the two previous contests, both clubs picked up a win with the Hornets acting as the host.

The Hornets have lost three straight and seven of their last eight at the Lakers.

The Lakers are scheduled to host the Hornets on April 19th in the fourth and final meeting of the campaign between the squads.