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Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Hornets NBA Preview & Free Pick

NBA Basketball Matchup: Lakers vs Hornets

The Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers will look to get back on track without the help of Kobe Bryant who is suffering from inflammation in his left leg when they take on bottom division dwellers New Orleans in the Big Easy on Monday night.  

Date/Time: 8:00 PM ET, April 9, 2012
Venue: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
Broadcast: CST
Spread: OFF
Over/Under: OFF

Matchup | Preview

Bryant incurred the injury because of a kick to the shin when he last faced the Hornets, so it’s ironic he will miss the rematch.

The Lakers (35-22, 12-16 away) will aim to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season after falling to Phoenix 125-105 on Saturday. A game in which Bryant missed, ending his 138 consecutive game streak.
It was the Lakers’ second loss in a row following a 112-107 home loss to Houston on Friday in which Bryant, who was noticeably limping near the conclusion, still managed to put up 28 points.

Big Pau Gasol has done a decent job making up for the absent NBA scoring leader, and netted a season-high 30 points whole snatching 13 rebounds against Phoenix. Andrew Bynum also stepped up and contributed 23 points and 18 boards, but it wasn’t enough as the Suns rocked LA for a season-high most points allowed. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Los Angeles continues to shoot well, but defense still remains the problem.

However, they could catch a break, facing a New Orleans team which was scoring just 89.4 points per game, but since the return of star Eric Gordan have surged, boosting their average to 98.7 points per game.

Gordon, though, had only 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting in a 99-90 home win over Minnesota on Saturday, as the Hornets now look to win back-to-back games for the first time since February.

New Orleans (15-41, 7-21 home) has lost six straight and 12 of 14 to the Lakers, and despite leading the most recent matchup at home on March 14 by 17, lost to LA 107-101 in overtime as Bryant scored 33 points.

Free Pick: Los Angeles– While the Hornets may not have to figure out Kobe in this one, they will need to find a way to guard the Lakers’ Gasol and Bynum in the paint, and I just don’t see that happening.

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