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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 7, 2009

West scores 40 to lead Hornets past Lakers

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

David West

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LOS ANGELES — Somebody had to play defense in last night's Hornets-Lakers game.

The Hornets finally did in the fourth quarter, and it proved decisive.

David West scored 15 of his 40 points in the final period to outscore Los Angeles by himself, and New Orleans beat Los Angeles, 116-105, to snap the Lakers' 15-game home winning streak.

The Lakers led 92-89 entering the fourth quarter before shooting just 5-of-21, including 3-of-11 from 3-point range while being outscored 27-13.

"We had to pick it up defensively," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "Kobe (Bryant) was hitting everything he was throwing up and they made a bunch of 3s. Defense was our focus. We tried to switch it up and we tried to play Kobe straight up most of the game, but he just got it going so toward the end and we figured that we had to get it out of his hands as much as possible."

Bryant led the Lakers with 39 points, but scored only two in the fourth quarter, shooting 1-of-6 after going 13-of-16, including 6-of-6 from 3-point range in the first three quarters.

"After the third quarter, they pretty much weren't going to let me get a shot off," Bryant said. "Shots didn't go for us."

West shot 14-of-23 from the floor and 12-of-13 from the foul line in matching his career high. He also grabbed 11 rebounds as the Hornets (21-10) avenged two losses to the Lakers in New Orleans earlier this season.

BOBCATS 114, CELTICS 106

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After 19 straight wins and an NBA record 27-2 start, the Boston Celtics have lost that swagger.

Last night, it was the lowly Charlotte Bobcats, as Raymond Felton scored 25 points and rookie D.J. Augustin added 11 of his 20 in overtime in a stunning victory that sent the Celtics to their fifth loss in seven games.

"We told our team before the season it will be 82 Game 7s. Every time we play it's a Game 7 for the other team," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "On the nights we're not ready mentally for that, we're going to have to get lucky and play over our head to win."

Felton's fadeaway with 38 seconds left in regulation put Charlotte ahead 96-95. After Ray Allen missed a jumper, Felton was fouled and hit only one free throw with 20 seconds left. Paul Pierce drilled a turnaround jumper with 3.4 seconds left to tie it and Felton missed a straightaway 20-footer at the buzzer to force OT.

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