NEW ORLEANS — Chris Paul had 27 points and 17 assists to help the New Orleans Hornets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-98 tonight in what could prove to be a costly game for both teams.

Paul hobbled to the finish after hurting his left ankle on a failed drive to the hoop with 2:31 to go. Lakers center Pau Gasol and David West, however, did not make it to the final horn.

Gasol sprained his left ankle in the first quarter and needed help getting to the locker room. West had 12 points and 14 rebounds for New Orleans, but limped off the floor with just under seven minutes remaining, having reaggravated a nagging left ankle sprain that kept him out for three games a week earlier.

Kobe Bryant had 36 points and nine assists for Los Angeles, which lost for only the third time in 17 games. He walked dejectedly to the locker room with 15 seconds left after fouling out. Lamar Odom had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who won by 29 points when they visited New Orleans on Jan. 9, but this time shot only 38 percent.

Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 20 rebounds in the latest impressive triumph for the Hornets, who beat San Antonio by 25 points on Wednesday. But the Hornets could struggle in Detroit on Sunday if both West and Paul either play hurt or sit out altogether.

Peja Stojakovic missed all seven two-point field goals he attempted, but was 5-of-9 from 3-point range for 15 points, hitting two big shots in the fourth quarter to help New Orleans pull away.

The Hornets scored the first eight points of the third quarter and led 60-53 after Paul's fastbreak layup. Bryant refused to let the game slip away there, however. He scored the Lakers' next 13 points in a row, hitting two 3s, making three free throws after being fouled on the perimeter and converting a three-point play on a driving dunk.

The spurt helped the Lakers tie it at 65. Unlike the last times these teams met, the Hornets remained on the offensive.

Paul hit an open 3 late in the period, which ended right as Chandler finished a fastbreak with a thunderous dunk, giving New Orleans an 80-72 lead heading into the final period.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson rested Bryant for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter and the Hornets were able to build on their lead, going up 94-82 when rookie Julian Wright hit a jumper, then jammed an alley-oop feed from Paul on a fastbreak.

Jackson called timeout, but continued to rest Bryant and the Lakers fell farther behind when Stojakovic made a pair of 3-pointers, the second giving New Orleans a 100-85 lead with 5:35 to go.

The Lakers led by as much as seven in the first half and held the edge through most of the first 24 minutes, when Bryant score 14 points and Odom 12.

Late in the second quarter, Paul set up Chandler's alley-oop dunk and converted a pair of three-point plays on driving floaters as he was fouled, the second one tying the game at 46.

Derek Fisher then made a 3-pointer from the corner in the final seconds of the quarter, giving Los Angeles a 49-46 halftime lead.