(My Sportsbook) - The Los Angeles Lakers shoot for their 16th consecutive win at Staples Center Tuesday when they welcome the talented New Orleans Hornets to town.

The Lakers improved to 4-0 on their current five-game homestand on Sunday when Kobe Bryant posted a game-high 26 points and LA used a big third quarter to cruise to a 100-86 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Los Angeles' victory, coupled with the setbacks by Boston and Cleveland earlier that day, gave the Lakers the best record in the NBA at 27-5, including an 18-1 mark on their home floor.

Pau Gasol finished with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, while Vladimir Radmanovic and Sasha Vujacic came off the bench to chip in 16 and 11 points, respectively, in LA's sixth straight win overall.

The Lakers haven't won 16 in a row at home since a 17-game run in 1988-89. The franchise record is 21 straight home victories during the 1976-77 campaign.

The Hornets, meanwhile, dropped to 1-1 on a four-game road swing on Saturday in Denver when Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help the Nuggets stave off New Orleans, 105-100.

Chris Paul poured in a game-high 30 points and doled out 11 assists for the Hornets, who saw their four-game win streak halted. David West added 21 points and eight boards while Peja Stojakovic logged 19 points.

Center Tyson Chandler missed the contest as he was suspended without pay by the NBA for elbowing Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla in the neck in Friday's 92-77 win against Portland. Chandler will be back in the lineup tonight.

New Orleans, which is 9-6 as the visitor this season, will finish its trek in Utah on January 7.

The Lakers have won three straight over the Hornets, including a pair of triumphs in the Big Easy earlier this season.