2011 NBA Playoffs: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets, Western Conference First Round, Game 5
Information about game 5 of the L.A. Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets series in the 2011 NBA Playoffs, with score, recap, pictures, stats, highlights, quotes and Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol performance.
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Game recap & pictures
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April 26 - Staples Center, Los Angeles. The Lakers had a bad time in the first quarter but Kobe woke them up with a spectacular dunk in the second and led them to a 106-90 victory over the Hornets. L.A. is again ahead in the series, 3-2 and will try to end it Thursday in New Orleans. After spraining his ankle late in game 4, Kobe left New Orleans on crutches, and although many doubted about his status for this game, he refused to take an MRI exam and had 19 points in 29 minutes, including two high-flying dunks that brought back memories of a much younger Bryant. Led by Chris Paul (20 points, 12 assists), the Hornets shot .842 from the field in a first quarter they won 32-23, but the Lakers opened the second period with a 10-0 run to take a 33-32 lead. Willie Green put the Hornets ahead again and then Kobe started his own show scoring 12 of the Lakers next 21 points. That included posterizing Okafor for the first time in the game and leaving in the dust anyone who tried to stop him. By halftime L.A. was leading 54-51 and would never trail again. The original plan against the Hornets was to dominate inside, taking advantage of the Lakers size and this time it really worked: the Lakers outrebounded them 42-25, 14-3 on the offensive end, with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol doing a very good job inside. Bynum ended with 18 points and 10 rebounds, Gasol with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. A nightmare for center Okafor who can't avoid to stay out of foul trouble and had 5 points in 38 minutes. After his historic triple double in game 4, Chris Paul couldn't repeat his performance, particularly in the second half, followed closely by the good defense of Derek Fisher (the efficient Derek Fisher that went 5-of-6 from the floor for 13 points) and sometimes even by the new winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, Ron Artest. The Hornets were forced to commit 19 turnovers a big downgrade from the 3 they committed in game 1, also played in the Staples Center. Former Laker Trevor Ariza mad 5 three-pointers and had 22 points. |
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The QuotesKobe Bryant (Lakers): "I just had a lane to the basket. It looked like he was going to challenge me at the rim, and I decided to accept the challenge... It's a message for us that this was important. It's time to raise up and do what we've got to do. They're not saved dunks. I don't have much of those left.” about his ankle..."It was a little stiff, but it loosened up." Monty Williams(Hornets Coach): "That's what he (Kobe) does, all this talk about his ankle. Did it look like his ankle was hurting? OK then.” Chris Paul (Hornets): "They got 15 offensive rebounds, they were in the paint all day. They were more aggressive, and they took it to us." Emeka Okafor (Hornets): about Kobe's injuries..."That's for show. You know Kobe is going to play no matter what, even if he has to be out there on one leg" |
Highlights
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Complete Boxscore
Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: 1 LALAKERS ( S Brown 1 ) - TEAMS (def3sec): LALAKERS (1) - COACHES: None Officials: Derrick Stafford , Ed Malloy , Rodney Mott Attendance: 18,997 Time of Game: 02:27 |
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