Lakers sneak past the Hornets, 93-91, without Kobe Bryant
NEW ORLEANS -- Kobe Bryant missed another game because of a sore left shin, but the Lakers survived the New Orleans Hornets ... barely.
Pau Gasol had 25 points, Andrew Bynum added 18 and Ramon Sessions hit a big three-pointer as the Lakers overcame an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win, 93-91, Monday at New Orleans Arena.
Bryant is being called day to day by the Lakers, who finish a three-game trip Wednesday in San Antonio. Trainer Gary Vitti reevaluated him Monday and detected improvement in the shin but not enough to let him play.
Sessions had 17 points and six assists for the Lakers (36-22), who struggled in two victories over the Hornets last month and again labored Monday.
Sessions hit a three-pointer with 26.1 seconds left to give the Lakers a 92-86 cushion.
The Lakers are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Clippers for third place in the Western Conference.
Bynum had another tough shooting night, starting two for eight and finishing seven for 17.
The most noticeable thing he did in the first half was deliver a bizarre foul on New Orleans point guard Greivis Vasquez above the three-point line after not getting a call at the other end. Hornets fans began to boo Bynum after that.
Carl Landry and Marco Belinneli each had 20 points for the Hornets (15-42), who own the worst record in the West.
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