The Tribune

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Pau Gasol had 25 points and nine rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Kobe Bryant's absence to beat the New Orleans Hornets, 93-91 last night. Bryant missed his second straight game with a sore left shin, but Ramon Sessions helped pick up the slack with 17 points, including a three-pointer that put the Lakers ahead by six with 26 seconds left. Andrew Bynum added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who snapped a two-game skid. Carl Landry had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Marco Belinelli scored 20 points for New Orleans, which led by as much as eight points in the fourth quarter, before the Lakers stormed back. Greivis Vasquez added 18 points and 11 assists for the Hornets, going 5 of 6 on 3-pointers.