Inspired Lakers halt losing run
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The Los Angeles Lakers put an end to their recent struggles with a much-needed 103-88 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.
Lamar Odom came off the bench to score a team-high 24 points for the Lakers (22-10), who shot 58 percent from the field to end a three-game losing streak.
The three defeats for Los Angeles were by 15 points or more, but the two-time defending champions produced an inspired effort on Wednesday to arrest the slide.
"Hopefully we can build on it because you never know what's going to happen the next game," Odom told reporters after his first game off the bench this season. "I knew Andrew (Bynum) was getting healthy - it didn't surprise me (coming off the bench). That's his starting spot."
Odom played a sixth-man role for most of last season but was starting this season in place of Bynum who missed the first month and a half while recovering from knee surgery.
Bynum returned to the starting lineup with 18 points, while Kobe Bryant made 8 of 14 shots for 20 points to rebound from an 8-for-27 shooting performance in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
"The shot selection was good, and the ball movement was good," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
"I'm not sure Andrew is ready but (moving him back to the starting role) was the right thing to do."
Chris Paul led the Hornets (18-14) with 20 points and seven assists but Los Angeles, which is looking for its third consecutive NBA title, stormed to an 18-point lead at halftime and cruised home from there.
The Hornets shot just 41 percent from the field. Marco Belinelli had 15 points while forward David West played through a twisted left ankle he suffered in the first half and finished with just eight points.
In Houston, Dwyane Wade scored 45 points as the Miami Heat extended their road winning streak to 10 games with a 125-119 win over the Rockets.
Wade shook off a hard foul from Aaron Brooks early in the fourth quarter to reach 45 points for the eighth time in his career. He hit 17 of 24 shots, went 10 for 10 from the free-throw line and pulled down seven rebounds.
It was the first time in his career that he'd reached 40 points on consecutive nights.
LeBron James scored 20 points and had nine assists for the Heat, who have won 16 of their past 17 overall.
Luis Scola scored 22 points for the Rockets, who had an eight-game home winning streak snapped.
Elsewhere in NBA action on Wednesday, it was: Pistons 104, Celtics 92; Hawks 103, Warriors 93; Jazz 103, Clippers 95; Thunder 114, Nets 93; 76ers 123, Suns 110; Wizards 104, Pacers 90; Kings 100, Grizzlies 98; Nuggets 119, Timberwolves 113; and Bobcats 101, Cavaliers 92.
