The Lakers' notorious inability to win on the road might just have to be re-evaluated.
The Lakers are up to 9-14 on the road this season after sweeping their trip through Memphis and New Orleans on Tuesday and Wednesday. It wasn't necessarily ideal to go double-overtime the first night and single-overtime the second night, rallying from 17 points behind both times, but it got the job done.
"One of the biggest differences in the second half was our ability to get scores in the paint," Lakers coach Mike Brown said of the 107-101 victory over the Hornets. "In the first half we had 18 (points in the paint). And in the second half, we had 36."
The leaders of that inside power were again Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. They also combined for 28 of the Lakers' 44 rebounds in New Orleans. As a team, the Hornets had just 34.
The Lakers have now won three consecutive road games with a Friday victory in Minnesota coming previously. The Lakers' will get tested again on the road next week -- going to Houston on Tuesday and Dallas next Wednesday.
First, the Lakers will try and improve on their 18-2 home record Friday night against a Timberwolves team seeking revenge for three previous losses this season.
Bynum's inconsistencies becoming a thing of the past
--Lakers center Andrew Bynum is becoming a consistently dominant player. He has 29 double-doubles this season out of 43 tries. He had 25 points and 18 rebounds Wednesday night in New Orleans.
--The Lakers took a step back on defense in the first half in New Orleans, allowing the Hornets to shoot 61.5 percent. It was the best shooting half of the season for a Lakers opponent, with the previous best being opening day by Chicago (58.5 percent). The Hornets rode that shooting to a 54-40 halftime lead but blew it in a Lakers overtime victory.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Watching the game, you can see the impact he has." -- Lakers coach Mike Brown, on Metta World Peace.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Kobe Bryant (nasal fracture) is playing through the injury.
--G Steve Blake (costachondral fracture) is playing through the injury.
--G Darius Morris (bruised left wrist) is day-to-day.
--F Luke Walton (gastroenteritis) is day-to-day.
ROTATION:
Starters:
--Point guard Derek Fisher
--Shooting guard Kobe Bryant
--Small forward Metta World Peace
--Power forward Pau Gasol
--Center Andrew Bynum
Bench:
--Guard Steve Blake
--Forward Matt Barnes
--Forward Josh McRoberts
--Guard Andrew Goudelock
