It was just the third field goal of the game for Bryant, who shot 3 of 21 and finished with 11 points as the Lakers ended a two-game skid at home. Pau Gasol had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Andrew Bynum added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Ramon Sessions had 10 points and 10 assists.
Bryant was 0 for 7 on 3-point attempts before making his only one. He had five assists, three rebounds and four fouls in 39 minutes. He endured the worst start to a game in his career, having previously missed his first 13 shots against San Antonio on Dec. 28, 2010.
Jarrett Jack had 18 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, but he missed what would have been a go-ahead bank shot with 4.9 seconds left.
Jason Smith added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Al-Farouq Aminu had 10 points for the Hornets, who lost playing their second straight game with just eight players available because of injuries. Trevor Ariza, Carl Landry and Chris Kaman sat out; Gustavo Ayon, a new father, and Emeka Okafor were not with the team.
The Lakers' anemic bench was still outscored by the Hornets' three reserves, 26-19. As a team, the Lakers went 32 of 77 from the floor, playing poorly until being rescued by Bryant.
The Lakers trailed, 75-65, before Bryant hit a 17-foot jumper over Marco Belinelli with 7 minutes 52 seconds remaining for his first field goal. Bryant followed on the next possession with a fadeaway jumper and was fouled, making the free throw to cut the Lakers' deficit to 7 after sitting out the first four minutes of the fourth quarter.
Bryant stepped to the line with 58 seconds left after Jack was called for a blocking foul. He made the first shot and missed the second, leaving the Lakers trailing, 85-83.
The Hornets' Greivis Vasquez missed a 3-point try with 31 seconds to go, setting up another signature closing moment by Bryant. He was 0 for 7 in the first half, missing four 3-pointers and dishing out five assists.
CAVALIERS' IRVING SITS OUT The Cleveland rookie point guard Kyrie Irving's sprained right shoulder kept him from facing the Knicks on Saturday. Donald Sloan, a rookie from Texas A&M, started in his place.
Irving injured his shoulder during Friday's loss to Milwaukee in Cleveland. He traveled with the Cavaliers to New York and was evaluated Saturday by the team's training staff.
The presumptive rookie of the year, Irving said after Friday's game that he was in pain. He also said that he separated his right shoulder as a high school sophomore.
Despite favoring his shoulder, Irving scored 29 points and made all six 3-point attempts in Cleveland's 121-84 loss to Milwaukee.
The Cavaliers had lost 6 straight and 9 of 10 to drop from the playoff chase.
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