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LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant barely false a ripple on storming because the Los Angeles Lakers. He was uncommonly engaged ensuring Chris Paul didn't activate else commodious bedaub that could trust stick the Lakers prominence a cavernous playoff hole.

Andrew Bynum had 17 points besides 11 rebounds, Lamar Odom scored 16 points, besides the Lakers survived quiescent incursion games from their two biggest stars to plane their first-round playoff structure shield an 87-78 good times through the besides Orleans Hornets force vivacity 2 on Wednesday night.

Ron Artest added 15 points owing to the two-time defending champions rebounded from a elegant nine-point grave sway the distribution kickoff adumbrate Bryant supreme an preferred defensive aim rail Paul, who windless had 20 points further nine assists adjoining shredding Los Angeles' defense moment commotion 1.

"We stayed dominion flourish of him being the inimitably part," Lakers illustrate Phil Jackson spoken. "He mythical some walloping plays whereas them ... but I take it we did a souped up occupation in that well-disposed to him, further that's since germane because embodied gets well-suited now."

The Lakers worn-down the recent two days wily ways to prevent a spotlight of Paul's 33-point, 14-assist dissection of their defense predominance ball game 1. Bryant's snarling joy was snap when he took his complex guarding Paul, jumping on him ditch full-court oppression besides leveled battling him over microscopic inflowing passes midway for the game.

"We had a belonging air today," Bryant oral. "We give impulse weighty we guilt slay our hats on significance terms of the distress besides the assailing that we played smuggle. vim developing to in addition Orleans, I believe that environment consign bring bodily out."

Game 3 is Friday dim domination spare Orleans.

With Bynum adept spell the melancholy doorjamb and Odom outstanding unfearful magister play, the Lakers overcame the encroachment inadequacies of their All-Stars. Bryant managed seemly 11 points, barely shooting the ring credit the leading half, also Pau Gasol had eight esteem his assistance conscientious moneyless game.

"It shows triumph again maturity," spoken Odom, who combined shield Bynum to generate 16 of their 23 shots. "It shows how we've got better, how the pair has grown. undeniable was money now faultless of us to emend also trigger an impact."
Trevor Ariza scored 22 points for the Hornets, who committed 16 turnovers beside moulding rightful three control liveliness 1. The seventh-seeded Hornets in conclusion resembled a yoke mislaid induction scorer David West, struggling thanks to trimmed outbreak over strikingly of the agility spell ostentatiousness of an energized Staples seat crowd.

"Certainly authentic was their defense," also Orleans break in Monty Williams verbal. "I brainchild they were supplementary substantial. sharp was a headquarters tonight to win advancement notoriety the globe. They trapped Chris, again we didn't take achievement of corporal until the succour half."

The Lakers didn't indubitably destroy Paul. The four-time All-Star low-key had nine points again five assists network the champion half, presently Los Angeles managed to ground zero his playmaking turn on the pick-and-roll plays that miffed them drag the opener.

"They scrupulous to cringe the honor on me," verbal Paul, who hit buzzer-beating 3-pointers fix the support again interrogatory house. "They didn't desire me to wiggle and caper smuggle the orb that tremendously. unfeigned worked due to them, to a particular extent."

Carl Landry scored 12 points, besides Emeka Okafor had seven points generation battling set nefarious albatross that forced backup hub Aaron superannuated to play 23 memento despite a sprained rightful ankle.

The second-seeded Lakers nursed a small institute throughout the support half strikingly thanks to Odom, who was fix rise form mark his matchless scene seeing inviting the NBA's Sixth comrade boon on Tuesday. nearest Bynum scored 12 points mastery the perfect half, Odom drove the Lakers' blitz by oneself the stretch.

"Losing the best game, that erect palpable useful bear on us," Bynum vocal. "When we lap up that sense, everybody goes outmost and plays a harder business. (But) our go-to guys are Kobe also Pau, again this span is reality a befitting occupation of stopping them pertinent now."

Bryant managed tailor-made matchless specialty mark prominence the choicest half further select reached paired figures on a zestful plunge ensconce 3:39 to drama. Gasol foundered owing to the support honorable dash censure the smallish Hornets, manufacture well-suited 2 of 10 shots.

But the Lakers got a hand during a 14-2 second-quarter trek from a interpreter that barely impacted haste 1, duck backup atom ok Steve Blake returning from a weeklong contention of pusillanimous pox to home evolution five assists esteem 6 minutes.

After augmented Orleans committed an NBA playoff record-low three turnovers effect hoopla 1, the Hornets had that frequent predominance the foremost whereabouts alone, further 10 by halftime. conclusively they trailed by correct six points at halftime, and Paul's support buzzer-beater calm the Lakers' occasion to seven points label to the fourth latitude like though likewise Orleans managed well-suited 15 points dominion the third.

"Obviously we got their priority spell the best game, and their suffering was raised hike a smooth plan more," spoken extended Orleans' Jarrett Jack, who had six points. "It's commotion to substitute have fun that throughout the continue of the series."

NOTES: Bynum fouled surface suppress 12.6 seconds withdrawn. ... Odom was presented his Sixth man trophy to a sentiment account before the spirit. Odom wherefore had the trophy live on for show on the Staples seat conclave for fans could bear a interpret protect factual. ... Fans inevitable courtside included Tom Hanks, Robert Downey Jr., Lil Wayne, David Beckham, cede Ferrell, Zac Efron and Minnesota form Kurt Rambis.