The Los Angeles Lakers clinched the Pacific Division championship and moved within a half-game of first place in the Western Conference with a 107-104 victory over the front-running New Orleans Hornets.

Kobe Bryant had 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, who held off a furious second-half Hornets rally after leading by 30 points in the second quarter.

The division title is Los Angeles' first in four years and leaves them an opportunity to take the conference crown with less than a week remaining in the regular season.

The Lakers have a 55-25 record to the Hornets' 55-24 mark. A showdown in Los Angeles on Sunday with the third-place San Antonio Spurs could determine both teams' chances of catching the Hornets.

The Lakers close out the season on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings.

The Hornets have road games remaining against the Kings and Dallas Mavericks and a home contest against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Spurs and the Houston Rockets both are a game behind New Orleans in the tight Western Conference race.

Pau Gasol added 25 points and Lamar Odom had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers.

Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points for New Orleans with Tyson Chandler collecting 18. Chris Paul added 15 points and 17 assists.

A 39-point first quarter gave the Lakers a lead they never relinquished but the Hornets came close, pulling within a point on Stojakovic's three-pointer with 3:57 to play.

A six-point run fuelled by Derek Fisher's three-pointer gave the Lakers some breathing space.

Reuters