Lakers storm back in final quarter to sting Hornets
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NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - All-Stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined to score 66 points and lead the twice defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-95 win against the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday.
The Lakers squandered a 14-point lead in the third quarter but fought back in the last four minutes of the game, outscoring the Hornets 9-3 in that span to secure the victory at New Orleans Arena.
Spanish center Gasol scored a season-high 34 points and Bryant added 32, including a key three-pointer with 3:20 remaining to give the Lakers the lead for good.
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Paul led the Hornets with 21 points, Delonte West added 16 and the Hornets bench scored 39 points including 14 by Marcus Thornton.
(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario; editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)