If the Hornets are ever going to get to the top of the Western Conference, they're going to have to find a way to get past the Lakers.

They'll take another crack at the defending Western champions on Tuesday night at Staples Center.

The last time the teams met in Los Angeles, it was April and they were neck and neck for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers dominated the game early, building a 30-plus-point lead before the Hornets climbed back into the game. The Lakers prevailed and went on to earn the top seed in the West; the Hornets were No. 2.

The teams have met twice this season in New Orleans, and both times the Lakers opened 20-plus-point leads in the first half before the Hornets fought back but came up short.

Despite a 105-100 loss at...

The Denver Nuggets' starters were looking forward to resting in the fourth quarter. Instead, they needed Carmelo Anthony's last-minute shot. Anthony scored 22 points, including a layup with 56.5 seconds left, and the Nuggets blew a 26-point third quarter lead before recovering to beat the New Orleans Hornets 105-100 on Saturday night.

The New Orleans Hornets didn't unravel after Tyson Chandler was kicked out. Instead, they regrouped. David West had 25 points, Chris Paul added 17 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and the Hornets beat the stunned Portland Trail Blazers 92-77 on Friday night. West and Paul teamed to lead New Orleans' rally, with the Hornets outscoring Portland 41-19 in the final 15 minutes for their fourth...

Chris Paul's three triple-doubles in the first two months of the season have impressed, but not surprised, his teammates. "He's one of the best point guards ever to grace this game," Hornets shooting guard Rasual Butler said. "He's the ultimate talent." Paul had 15 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds, tying a franchise record with his seventh career triple-double, and New Orleans beat the Washington...

Chris Paul's New Orleans teammates and coaches were imploring the guard to take charge of the game against the lowly Pacers. So he did. Paul scored 11 points in the game's final 3:36 and David West hit a 17-foot fadeaway jumper with 2.5 seconds remaining to help the Hornets rally for a 105-103 win over Indiana on Sunday night.

Chris Paul and his Hornets teammates had a lousy Christmas, so they took it out on the Houston Rockets. Paul had 26 points and 10 assists, and New Orleans snapped a two-game skid with an 88-79 victory over Houston on Friday night. David West added 23 points and Rasual Butler 13 for the Hornets, who took an early lead and never trailed, mindful of their dreadful, 88-68 loss in Orlando on Christmas...

First, Stan Van Gundy praised the Orlando Magic after their latest win. Then, he criticized them for a lackluster second half. Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to lead the Magic to an 88-68 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday in a matchup of division leaders. "Our first half was our best offensive half of the year," the Orlando coach said.

Kobe Bryant dribbled with his back to the basket while James Posey hounded him -- a scene reminiscent of last season's NBA finals, when Posey played for Boston. Bryant hardly looked haunted by the memory, though, throwing a quick shoulder fake before twisting in the air and draining a turnaround jumper.