Entering the game against the Hornets last night, the Lakers were 30-31, needing one more win to put them back at .500. Nerves were high before the matchup as Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace all sustained injuries against the Thunder on Tuesday night. Luckily, the three of them made it out last night and in an epic comeback, the largest since 2002.
The worst home team in the NBA made a joke of the Lakers in the first half, building a 25-point lead at one point in the second quarter. At the break, New Orleans led the Lakers 67-48. The fourth quarter was really where the pace picked up, and the Lakers got even with the Hornets with 1:29 left in the 4th, tying the game 102-102. The Lakers finished the game on a 20-0 run, and a 108-102 victory.
On and off the court, the Lakers have been improving lately. Reports of positive team energy have been floating around, like this one from last night. In the past, Nash and Kobe have been frustrated with Howard’s performance, but said after the game against the Hornets that Dwight played exceptionally well. Howard dominated on the glass with 15 rebounds and on the defensive end with four blocked shots. Seeing Kobe and Dwight get along must be especially refreshing for Lakers fans.
Nash also dished out some more love last night to Jodie Meeks, who scored 19 points and hit several crucial three-pointers down the stretch. Nash said:
“Of course, Kobe was Kobe and Dwight was terrific, but Jodie making shots really stretched the floor and allowed Kobe to be even more unguardable down the stretch. A team has to find a way to win games, and I think tonight Jodie’s shooting was as big as anything because it opened the floor up for Kobe.”
Want to relive that amazing comeback against the Hornets? Here are the game highlights.
Lakers Nation News
Pau Gasol Saw ‘Encouraging’ Results After Running Drills
Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard Getting on the Same Page
Jerry West Believes The ‘Worst Is Behind’ The Lakers
Lakers vs. Hornets NBA Highlights: March 6, 2013
Lakers News: Steve Nash Credits Jodie Meeks For Role in Comeback
Lakers Complete Incredible Comeback, Beat Hornets in New Orleans
After Lakers’ Latest Comeback, Kobe and Nash ‘Proud Of’ Dwight
Lakers News
Dwight Leads the Defense Against Hornets [Silver Screen and Roll]
MWP Twists Ankle, Blames ‘Harlem Shake’ [Silver Screen and Roll]
Gasol to Seek Clearance for Running Drills [Silver Screen and Roll]
Phil Jackson texts Dwight Howard [Silver Screen and Roll]
If the Lakers Make the Playoffs Who Falls Out? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Gasol Runs for the First Time Since Plantar Fascia Tear [Silver Screen and Roll]
Hornets Resuscitate Lakers 108-102 [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Gain in Standings with Comeback Win Over Hornets [latimes.com]
Dwight Howard blocks Robin Lopez to save Lakers win (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe and Dwight Dominate Late, Lead Comeback [Forum Blue and Gold]
Whicker: Another plot twist for Lakers’ Jamison [OC Register]
Lakers Erase 25-point Deficit in Second Half to Beat the Hornets [latimes.com]
Lakers Can Top .500 For 1st Time Since Nov. 21: [Lakers Blog]
Look at the Lakers, Look at the Math and Utah Should Be Nervous [ProBasketballTalk]
The Lakers: Who’s Team Is It? [ESPN]
Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson Exchange Barbs [latimes.com]
Bryant, Lakers Rally From 25 Down to Sink Hornets [OC Register]
Lakers 108, Hornets 102: Mar. 6 Running Diary [Lakers Blog]
Jerry West Says Lakers Will Make Playoffs, ‘Worst is Behind Them’ [latimes.com]
Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard Finally Forging a Partnership for Los Angeles Lakers [ESPN Los Angeles]
Earl Clark Benched at Halftime [The Orange County Register]
Pain Only A State Of Mind For Kobe [Hang Time Blog]
Dwight Howard Tries to Clarify Thoughts on Orlando, Teammates [ProBasketballTalk]
The Lakers Largest Comeback Since 2002 [LA Times]
Another Serving of Vino [NBA]
Jameer Nelson Responds to Dwight Howard’s Insult to Magic Teams [CBSSports.com]
Analyzing Dwight Howard’s Defensive Woes This Season [Grantland]
Dwight Howard Blames the Media for Twisting That Thing He Said About Nobody Wanting His ex-Orlando Teammates [Ball Don’t Lie]
Dwight Howard Tries to Clarify Thoughts on Orlando, Teammates [ProBasketballTalk]
NBA News
Stephen Curry Hits Shot from Players Hallway (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]
Kris Humphries Taken Out of Brooklyn Nets’ Rotation [ESPN New York]
Pacers to Re-Evaluate Granger’s Knee Next Week [NBA]
Austin Rivers Breaks Hand [ESPN]
Two Men Stabbed Outside Lakers/Thunder Game Tuesday [ProBasketballTalk]
Philadelphia 76ers Expected to Maintain Investment in Andrew Bynum [SI.com]
Doc Rivers Compares Andrew Bynum’s Absence to His Experience with Grant Hill [Ball Don’t Lie]
Sixers Almost Acquired Josh Smith at Deadline [ProBasketballTalk]
Would Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Like to Coach the Milwaukee Bucks? ‘Of Course,’ He Says [Ball Don’t Lie]
All-Star Snubbed Jamal Crawford Teams With Blake Griffin on Dunk for Ages [Los Angeles Clippers Blog]
Fast-And-Loose Rockets Defy Convention [Hang Time Blog]
Injuries to Love, Wall Send Wolves, Wizards In Opposite Directions [Hang Time Blog]
Klay Thompson Nails Game Winning Three for Warriors (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]
Arena Link: Jodie Meeks [NBA.com]
Rudy Gay Takes Issue With Grizzlies, Embraces Challenge With Star-Hungry Raptors [Yahoo! Sports]
David Stern Scolds Dennis Rodman for North Korea Trip [The Point Forward]
If Kyrie Irving’s Knee Keeps Bothering Him, Cavs May Shut Him Down [ProBasketballTalk]
The Hunted: Warriors, Rockets & Jazz [Hang Time Blog]
