"There have been many times this season where the starting unit struggled and the bench came in and bailed us out. Tonight was the opposite," Bryant said. "Anytime you have a game like that where you kinda seesaw down the stretch like that and come out with a win, it's always good."
Pau Gasol had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the defending Western Conference champions, who won for the 14th time in 16 games. Derek Fisher, whose 3-pointer with 14.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter forced overtime, made four free throws in the final 14.3 seconds of the extra period to ice it.
"We had our chances and should have won the game, there's no doubt about it," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "We just gave it to them. The last thing I said in the huddle was,
'Don't give up open 3s.' But we gave a 3 to Fisher. We just have to put it in the past and forget about it."
Lamar Odom grabbed 12 points and 17 rebounds, the fifth time in six games that he had 17 or more boards.
The Lakers improved the NBA's best record to 45-10 and avenged a 116-105 loss to the Hornets on Jan. 6 that ended a 15-game home winning streak. Chris Paul and David West, who combined for 72 points in that one, had 21 and 16 respectively in the rematch while Rasual Butler led the team with 31.
Paul also had 16 assists in 45 minutes before picking up his sixth foul with 1:32 left in OT
- the first time he fouled out in a regular-season game in his four-year NBA career. West had a season-high 16 rebounds for New Orleans.
Hornets center Tyson Chandler watched from the bench in street clothes with his current and "former" teammates.
Chandler, who was traded by New Orleans to Oklahoma City on Tuesday and flunked his physical with the Thunder on Wednesday, rejoined the Hornets in Los Angeles for the start of a three-game road trip after the deal for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the draft rights to DeVon Hardin was rescinded.
Chandler has been sidelined since Jan. 19, when he injured his left ankle in a game against Boston. But the reason for his failed physical had more to do with the big toe on his left foot, than his ankle. Oklahoma City's team doctor, Carlan Yates, was the Hornets' team physician when he operated on Chandler's toe three years ago.
"I laughed when I heard the reason," the Hornets' leading rebounder said. "It was very surprising to me, because I haven't missed a game because of the toe since I had my surgery on it. It hasn't caused me any problems, and I don't think it's going to cause me any problems in the future. I even congratulated Dr. Yates before on the great job that he did. That's what's comical about it."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson rested Bryant for the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, and New Orleans reduced a 13-point deficit to 85-82 with 8:46 remaining on Butler's 3-pointer
- one of five by the Hornets in the quarter.
