Lakers Beat Hornets, Finally Get a Win

With Kobe Bryant struggling from the field, Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer stepped up to provide the Lakers their first win of the season over the Hornets

After the worst start in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers since arriving in California, the team finally got its first win of the 2014-15 season Sunday night when the Lakers beat the Charlotte Hornets 107-92 to move to 1-5 on the season.

In his pregame interview, Lakers' coach Byron Scott emphasized the Lakers' need to receive positive contributions from Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer in order to balance the dependence on Kobe Bryant. Scott pointed to Boozer and Lin as the guys that needed to step up. The coach's comments foreshadowed a third quarter that would prove to be decisive.

In an ugly first half at Staples Center, the Lakers only notched 42 points and trailed the Hornets by nine points at the halftime intermission. Bryant led all scorers at that point, but the Lakers' star player had started slow, making only one of his first seven shots.

With the Lakers failing to impress and their star player not having his best shooting night, Lin and Boozer stepped forward for a third quarter run that would take the Lakers from down nine points to up 12 points over the 12-minute span.

During that crucial third period, Boozer and Lin combined to hit eight of their 10 shots, and the duo combined to score 22 of the Lakers' 34 points in the quarter. Along with that, the Lakers held the Hornets to only 13 points over those 12 minutes of basketball.

One reason the Lakers enjoyed success in the third period was the three-point shot. After missing all eight attempts from long distance in the first half, Lin sparked a flurry of three-point activity in the third quarter. The Lakers would go on to make four of five three-pointers in the period, and the crowd noise seemed to increase with every made shot.

After the game, Scott said the third quarter was the blueprint for how this team could be successful, "on both ends."

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In the fourth quarter, the Lakers held the Hornets at bay and increased their lead to 17 points at one point. Lin and Boozer continued to make plays down the stretch. Lin finished with 21 points on 8-12 shooting from the field to go along with seven assists. Boozer finished with 16 points and five rebounds. Despite a slow start, Bryant was named the in-arena player of the game, as the "Black Mamba" tabbed 21 points, six rebounds and four assists.

It may not have been the prettiest 48 minutes, but the Lakers played a beautiful second half and collected a much-needed victory--the first for Scott as head coach of the Lakers.

The Lakers play in Memphis on Tuesday night.

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