Chris Paul Leads Team to Second Win Over Lakers

by terah on 25. Apr, 2011 in Featured

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (NEWSTABULOUS) – With Chris Paul‘s 27 point, 15 assists and 13 rebound game the Hornets upset the Lakersin a 93-88 victory tying the series 2-2.

Paul, who turned in the performance after spending Easter with family, said:

“It’s huge for us…We wanted to bring a win to our fans in New Orleans. Happy we got this win on Easter. Having my family here makes it more special.”

Paul scored 14 of New Orleans’ 24 points in the fourth quarter. The superstar guard then topped off his brilliant performance by running down the clock and setting up Jarrett Jack’s short jumper, which gave them the lead 90-86 with 9.3 seconds left in the game.

Hornets coach, Monty Williams, said:

“Chris Paul, that was one of the better performances I’ve seen in the playoffs…A lot of guys score. He scored. He assisted. He rebounded.”

Kobe Bryant scored only 17 points for the Lakers, none of which were made during the first half.

Paul, who hit 7 of 14 shots and all 11 of his free throws, explained:

“Regardless of what happens in this series, it was good to see the city with a smile on their face…It was fun, man. I’m just so thankful to get to say this is my way of life.”

Trevor Ariza had 19 points for New Orleans, while Carl Landry added 16 before fouling out with a minute left in the game.

The Hornets’ victory tonight ensures the series will return to New Orleans for Game 6 on Thursday.

Pau Gasol and Ron Artest scored 16 points each for Los Angeles, with all of Artest’s points coming from the first half. Andrew Bynum finished with 11 points and Derek Fisher had 10.

The Hornets had a big second half, never trailing and led by as many as nine points, at 57-48, early in the third quarter when Marco Belinelli’s 3 capped a 20-3 spurt that began in the second quarter.

New Orleans started the fourth quarter off with a flourishing. After setting up Green’s 3-point shot, Paul added a tough floater from the baseline as he was fouled and a step-back jumper on the baseline capping a 12-3 run that took the score to 81-72 with 6:13 left.

Steve Blake turned the momentum with a 3-pointer and Bryant added a pull-up in the lane and a free throw to cut it to 81-78 with 4:24 left.

Bryant had a chance to tie it at 83 with a little over 2 minutes left, but his shot fell short and Paul struggled for the long rebound, drawing a foul on Gasol and hitting crucial free throws to make it 85-80.

A series of missed shots by the Lakers, and made free throws, sealed the win in the final minutes of the game for the hungry Hornets.

Game 5 will be played in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

photo: bballcity.com