Los Angeles - Seven proved to be a lucky number for the undefeated Los Angeles Lakers, but not for the previously unbeaten Atlanta Hawks.

Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher scored 20 points apiece, and Lakers held off the New Orleans Hornets 93-86 on Wednesday night, to become the only unblemished team left in the league.

Spain's Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum added 14 points apiece for the Lakers, whose 7-0 start matches their fastest since the 2001-02 season.

The Lakers built a 23-point cushion that was trimmed to 83-80. However, Bryant buried his only 3-pointer over closely-guarded James Posey with 1:08 remaining that doubled the score.

"I just wanted to shoot it in his face," Bryant said. "I knew I was due."

Los Angeles - Al Horford was unstoppable and the high-flying Atlanta Hawks remained unbeaten in the NBA.

Horford had a career-high 27 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks as the Hawks rolled to their sixth straight victory, 113-108 over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

"Everybody knows we're shorthanded with Josh Smith (ankle injury) being out," teammate Mo Evans said. "And for us to be undefeated after six, Al was huge."

The Hawks are off to best start since opening the 1997-98 season with 11 straight wins, but it's no surprise to Hawks guard Mike Bibby.

Los Angeles  - Superman made an unexpected late appearance in Boston to rescue the reigning NBA Champions.

Paul Pierce poured in 22 of his 36 points in the final quarter, rallying the Celtics to a 94-87 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
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"I like to play within the flow of the offence," said Pierce, who was icing a sore right shooting hand afterwards. "We ran our stuff. I just got caught in situations where I had opportunities to score."

Los Angeles  - A third time with the Denver Nuggets wasn't the charm for Antonio McDyess, after the club agreed to a contract buyout and waived the veteran power forward on Monday.

The move comes a week after the Detroit Pistons shipped McDyess, along with Chauncey Billups and Cheikh Samb, to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson in the first blockbuster trade of the young season.

A fan favourite in Detroit, the 34-year-old McDyess is most likely to re-sign with the Pistons after clearing the required 30-day waiting period.

Los Angeles  - The Detroit Pistons' second game with newly-acquired Allen Iverson was worse than the first.

Reserve Tony Allen scored 23 points, Ray Allen had 17 and the Celtics rolled to their fourth straight victory by punishing the Pistons 88-76 in Iverson's home-debut at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

"It was our best defence of the year by far, and it was all game," Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said. "We had active hands, were physical, got up in their bodies, and it was neat to see."

Los Angeles - In a matter of less than two seconds, Brandon Roy rode an emotional coaster before finishing on a high.

Roy nailed a 30-foot 3-pointer jumper to beat the overtime buzzer, and give the Portland Trail Blazers a dramatic 101-99 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Thursday night.

"In this building we're never out of it," said Roy, who finished with 17 points on just six-of-18 shooting from the field.