West and Hornets down Lakers

West was playing in just his second game since returning to action from an elbow injury that sidelined him for 30 games.

Rasual Butler ended with 20 points and hit some big three-pointers late in the fourth for the Hornets, who won for the fourth time in five games. Tyson Chandler ended with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Bobby Jackson had 15 points off the bench.

Kobe Bryant had 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Lakers, who wrapped up a three-game road trip at 1-2. Maurice Evans donated 23 points, a career high, and seven rebounds.

Smush Parker had 13 points in defeat.

New Orleans netted the first four points of the fourth, but Los Angeles followed by ripping off six straight, as a jumper by Jordan Farmar put the Lakers in front 88-87.

Jannero Pargo responded with a three to start a 7-0 New Orleans run that made it a 94-88 contest with 7:01 remaining.

Two free throws by Farmar pulled the Lakers within two, 94-92, but Chandler answered with a layup and dunk to put the Hornets ahead by six with 4:11 on the clock.

A conversion from behind the arc by Butler pushed New Orleans’ edge to 102-96 with 2:47 to go before Bryant responded with a trey of his own to make it a three-point game.

Butler refused to be out done, however, and later came back with another three-pointer for a 105-99 game, and West extended the Hornets’ edge on a jumper with 1:27 remaining.

West put the nail in the coffin when he drilled a jumper from the left side with just two seconds on the shot clock and 35 ticks remaining.

The Lakers led 29-25 after the first quarter, but the Hornets held a 34-22 scoring edge in the second to lead at the half.

The momentum-changing run of the frame came midway through, as West hit four straight free throws as part of an 8-2 burst that put the Hornets up 47-46. Five straight points by Devin Brown later moved New Orleans’ lead to 54-48 with 3:20 to go until the half.

New Orleans led 59-51 at the break.

Bryant opened up the third with a jumper, but the Hornets netted the next seven points to open up a 66-53 advantage.

LA then heated up and a 13-3 scoring advantage cut its deficit to 69-66 with 6:22 remaining. A three-pointer by Evans late pulled the Lakers to within 76-74 and Lakers trailed by just one at 83-82 heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

Andrew Bynum and Luke Walton each had nine points in defeat. Bynum also had nine boards...Pargo had 13 points off the bench and Brown ended with 11 points...The Hornets shot 48.2 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lakers, 46-37...Chandler had three blocks.