Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

With his left hand wrapped in a black bandage and cut patched up over his right eye, Chris Paul triumphantly cupped his hand to his ear and soaked in the roars of a packed and delirious New Orleans Arena.

Hornets fans rejoiced in knowing they would get to see Paul and Co. back in the Big Easy at least one more time, thanks to the All-Star guard’s first triple double of the season.

Paul had 27 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds, and the New Orleans Hornets held on for a 93-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night to even their first-round playoff series at 2-2.

“Regardless of what happens in this series, it was good to see the city with a smile on their face,” said Paul, who hit 7 of 14 shots and all 11 of his free throws. “It was fun, man. I’m just so thankful to get to say this is my way of life.”

Paul scored 14 of New Orleans’ 24 points in the fourth quarter. He capped what will go down as one of the best playoff performances in Hornets history by driving into a crowd of Lakers and turning an aborted shot into a perfect pass to set Jarrett Jack’s short jumper, which made it 90-86 with 9.3 seconds left.

“I was about to take one of the worst shots I’d taken all game,” Paul said. “I thank the Lord I saw Jack out of the corner of my eye.”

WRITTEN BY STATS LLC and The Associated Press & FULL STORY HERE

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Kobe Bryant rolled his left ankle late in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 93-88 loss to the New Orleans Hornets in Game 4 of their first-round series on Sunday.

 

“It’s sore,” Bryant said, conducting his postgame interview in the training room area of the visitor’s locker room at New Orleans Arena rather than at the podium for the televised press conference. “It just rolled over. It’s been weeks since I hurt it last and when it happens, when you roll your ankle once, it’s easy to go and it just went.”

 

He expects to play in Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5 as the series heads back to Staples Center tied 2-2.

WRITTEN BY Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Follow Dave McMenamin on Twitter: @mcten

& FULL STORY HERE