Lakers Have the Formula for Hornets

In a season of uncertainty, where the Lakers aren’t quite the Lakers of old, there remains at least one constant.

A game against New Orleans means a victory against New Orleans.

Call it a quirk of the NBA schedule, but the Lakers played the Hornets for the third, and last, time this season, and won again, 101-89, in front of 18,477 Wednesday at Staples Center.

It wasn’t as simple as expected against a team that is now 2-23, but the Lakers managed to break up a two-game slide in which they had lost at home to Washington and Memphis.

On a night when Kobe Bryant misfired on many more shots than he made, Chucky Atkins had 30 points, 18 coming on three-point baskets.

Bryant had 29 points on nine-for-26 shooting, Chris Mihm had 11 points and a career-best 21 rebounds, and the Lakers avoided losing three consecutive home games for the first time since February 1999, when they still called the Forum their home.

With that, the Lakers could turn their attention to the Miami Heat and the return of a certain All-Star center Saturday at Staples Center. It was the first question lobbed in Bryant’s direction.

“Wow, did we play tonight?” he said with a hint of sarcasm. “Everybody’s been waiting for this game. I’m patient. I’m just waiting.”

The Lakers had 65 rebounds, their most as a team since Nov. 6, 2003, but they weren’t without their faults.

Forward Caron Butler was ejected for punching New Orleans guard Dan Dickau in the ribs after Dickau fell on him with under 3:30 left to play.

The league will review the play and determine whether to assess further penalties that could include a one-game suspension for Butler.

Dickau was assessed a technical foul on the play, which happened in the backcourt as Bryant went for an uncontested dunk at the other end.

“I was in a position where I felt like my knee was twisted,” Butler said. “It was a crazy situation.”

Butler denied that he threw a punch.

“You watch the film,” he said. “My hand was open when I grabbed him and pulled him off of me. My reputation speaks for itself. I’m a classy dude. That’s the last thing I do, is throw a punch.”

Said Dickau: “He must’ve thought I was trying to do something a little more than I did. Too bad he got ejected; it wasn’t anything intentional.

“I had no idea that is why he got ejected. I had no clue. I didn’t feel it.”

The third quarter belonged to Atkins, who had three three-pointers and also found time to take a long rebound, move upcourt and feed Bryant above the rim for a one-handed dunk that put the Lakers ahead, 64-54.

“Sometimes the best way to get out of a funk is by being aggressive,” said Atkins, who made six of 15 three-point shots. “A lot of times, Kobe gets so much attention with double-teams, we’ll get open looks.”

Atkins did just that, making a three-pointer with 1.4 seconds left in the first half for a 48-43 lead.

All-Star guard Baron Davis, who had sat out 19 games because of a back injury, lifted the Hornets with 17 points, five assists and a three-pointer with 10:37 left to play that pulled the Hornets within 73-70, but they got no closer.

Laker Coach Rudy Tomjanovich did his best before the game to avoid the specter of the Miami game.

“We lost two home games,” Tomjanovich said. “If we’re looking ahead, we’re crazy. Those things are still really gnawing at me. I’d just like to clean that up and get a positive.

“You think I’m comfortable right now? I don’t like this situation at all. You start thinking tune-up [for Miami], you get tuned up.”

The Lakers were fine, it turned out. The Hornets fell to 1-13 on the road. Shaquille O’Neal -- the self-proclaimed brick wall -- and Bryant take the stage Saturday.

“I don’t know if I’m going to run through a brick wall,” Bryant said. “I’ll get a ladder, put it next to the wall and climb over it.”