LOS ANGELES - Chucky Atkins scored a season-high 30 points, Chris Mihm had 21 rebounds to match the highest total in the NBA this season, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Hornets 101-89 Wednesday night.<br>
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Kobe Bryant had his second straight off-shooting night, but scored 17 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers (14-11) snapped a two-game losing streak - both at home. They haven't lost three straight home games since February 1999.<br>
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Coming off a 2-of-16 performance in an 82-72 loss to Memphis, Bryant shot 9-of-26.<br>
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Now, the Lakers can focus their attention on Saturday's much anticipated game against Miami - their first against Shaquille O'Neal since they traded him to the Heat last summer. <br>
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The loss was the fourth straight for the injury depleted Hornets, who are an NBA-worst 2-23.<br>
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New Orleans star Baron Davis played for the first time since Nov. 12 and was terrific, getting 17 points and five assists in 17 minutes. He missed 19 games because of an inflamed disc in his lower back.<br>
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Mihm got his 16th rebound with 6 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter to surpass his career high. He also had 11 points and five blocked shots.<br>
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Caron Butler scored 13 points and Lamar Odom had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who outrebounded the Hornets 65-40. <br>
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David Wesley led New Orleans with 20 points and six assists. Lee Nailon scored 18 points and P.J. Brown had 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Hornets.<br>
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The Lakers led by only three points before a 3-pointer by Atkins and a dunk by Bryant gave them a 90-82 advantage with 3 1/2 minutes remaining. The Hornets weren't closer than six points after that.<br>
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The Lakers scored 13 straight points, including six by Atkins and five by Bryant, for a 69-54 lead late in the third quarter.<br>
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Suddenly, Davis scored 14 points in less than four minutes on four 3-pointers and a long jumper as the Hornets drew within three points with 9 1/2 minutes left.<br>
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Notes:@ Davis has played in only six games this season. He missed 15 with a sprained left ankle last season and 24 because of knee and back problems two years ago. ... New Orleans' Dan Dickau made his first start in the 108th game of his NBA career. He had nine points and five assists. ... Since moving to Staples Center five years ago, the Lakers have had six two-game losing streaks at home but none of more than two. ... The Lakers placed C Vlade Divac on the injured list because of a sore back and activated F Brian Grant. ... Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich laughed when asked before the game if he feared the Lakers might be looking past the Hornets and ahead to Saturday's game against the Heat. "We lost two damn home games. If we're looking ahead, we're crazy," he said. ... Butler was ejected for taking a swing at Dickau with 3 1/2 minutes left after Dickau tripped Butler. The trip didn't appear to be intentional.
