Lakers Have a Big Win

LOS ANGELES ?a A sprained ankle is really a minor impediment to Kobe Bryant at this point in his playoff profession. Emeka Okafor is really a a lot bigger obstacle.
Bryant overcame them both on the dunk that propelled the Los Angeles Lakers to a wave of momentum toward the second spherical.
Bryant scored 19 factors on the sprained left ankle, throwing down two impressive jams that led the Lakers past the New Orleans Hornets 106-90 in Game five on Tuesday night and also to a 3-2 sequence lead.
Bryant's second-quarter dunk on Okafor could turn out to become the Lakers' signature moment of a taxing first-round series that began with a beautiful Game one loss. That is precisely what Bryant was attempting to achieve when he picked up his dribble with two fingers and threw down a right-handed slam correct in Okafor's mug.
"I just had a lane to the basket," Bryant said. "It looked like he was likely to challenge me at the rim, and I made a decision to accept the challenge. ... It's a message for us that this was important. It's time to increase up and do what we've got to do. They're not saved dunks. I do not have much of these left."
Bryant left New Orleans on crutches two days earlier following getting hurt late in Game four, but he refused an MRI exam or substantial therapy when he acquired home. Postseason injuries are absolutely nothing new for the two-time NBA finals MVP, who has persevered through a slew of them throughout 67 playoff video games within the previous 3 years.
"That's what he does," stated Monty Williams, the Hornets' annoyed coach. "All this talk about his ankle. Did it look like his ankle was hurting? Ok then."
Trevor Ariza scored 22 points, Marco Belinelli added 21, and Chris Paul had twenty factors and 12 helps for your seventh-seeded Hornets, who have lost 3 of four because their series-opening victory. Ariza hit five 3-pointers, but managed just 6 factors in the 2nd half as the Lakers took control with the game and maybe the series.
Game 6 is Thursday in New Orleans.