2011 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals, Game #4
#2 Los Angeles Lakers at #7 New Orleans Hornets (LAL leads series 2-1) Best of Seven Series Format, 2-2-1-1-1
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Sunday, April 23, 2011, 9:35 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Lakers -5 1/2
Current Line: Lakers -5 1/2
Opening Total: 184
Current Total: 182 1/2
Money Line: Lakers -250 / Hornets +210
Friday night, the Lakers played their best game of the series against the Hornets without question as they dominated in the 100-86 win. The Lakers took back home court advantage in the series after splitting the first two games in LA. Now they look to grab a commanding 3-1 series lead before the teams head back to the Staples Center for game 5 Tuesday night. New Orleans looks to reclaim some of the magic they had in a 109-100 series opening upset.
The Lakers were dominant on both sides of the ball Friday night. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 30 points plus guarded Chris Paul for most of the game. Kobe also had 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals in the win. Kobe is averaging 25 points in three playoff games. After scoring only 8 points in the first 2 games, Pau Gasol had his best game of the series with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and one block. During the playoffs he is averaging 3.7 assists and 2 blocks a game to lead the team in those categories. Center Andrew Bynum had 14 points and 11 rebounds, but he left the game with another knee injury. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game. Bynum leads the Lakers in rebounds with 10.3 a game during the playoffs Derek Fisher added 10 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. NBA sixth man of the year Lamar Odom added 13 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. The Lakers shot 49% from the field Friday night, and had 43 rebounds, 17 assists and 13 turnovers.
The Hornets were never really in the game. They pulled with 6 in the 3 rd quarter but could not get any closer. Chris Paul was his normal brilliant self with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals. He injured his thumb Friday night but is probable Sunday night. Power forward Carl Landry added 23 points and 5 rebounds. Center Emeka Okafor had 15 points and 8 rebounds. Trevor Ariza had 12 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. The Hornets’ bench players only scored 9 points in the loss. They shot 46% from the field but were only 2 for 13 from 3-point range. New Orleans had 38 rebounds, 17 assists, and 14 turnovers Friday night.
Besides the injuries to Bynum and Paul, Center Theo Ratliff and Devin Ebanks are out indefinitely for the Lakers. The Hornets leading scorer forward David West is out for the season.
The Lakers are 11-3 straight up versus the Hornets in the last 14 meeting but only 7-7 against the spread in those games. The over is 9-5 in those games. The Lakers are 28-14 straight up in road games this season, while the Hornets are 28-14 straight up at home.
Chris Paul practiced Saturday with a black wrap over his left hand to protect his injured thumb. Paul and Hornets’ head coach Monty Williams expected him to play and were more concerned about winning game 4 than Paul’s injury. ”It’s a big game for us. It’s 2-1. It’s nothing to stress about or anything like that, but I think tomorrow is a game we really need to win,” Paul said. Paul was a non factor in the second half scoring only 4 points. He will have to do better than that to give the Hornets a chance to even up the series. If not the Lakers can close it out on Tuesday night.
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