The Lakers won but the Hornets were happy to be home

The NBA's New Orleans Hornets, who have been playing in Oklahoma City, hosted the LA Lakers at the New Orleans Arena.

Only an estimated 189,000 of the city's 465,000 residents have come back. But the game at the refurbished venue was a 17,744 sell-out.

However, the Lakers ruined the Hornets' homecoming with Kobe Bryant scoring 40 points as Los Angeles won 113-107.

Bryant, the NBA's biggest star, said afterwards: "New Orleans deserves a team.

"There was a lot of electricity out there tonight. A lot of the Hornets haven't played here before, but we have, and this is a hot spot."

The crowd gave us a lot of energy, the atmosphere was great, but there are a lot of more important issues for people here to have to worry about Hornets player PJ Brown

It was the first pro sports event in New Orleans since August 29, when Katrina destroyed much of the New Orleans.

Hornets owner George Shinn had worried about the city's ability to supply a crowd for the game - the first of three to be played there this season.

But fans arrived early, congregating outside well before tip-off and queued round the block to enter the Arena, restored at a cost of $10m (�5.7m).

The Hornets put on a good show for the New Orleans faithful, pulling to within 102-101 with 90 seconds to play.

Any hope of a win, however, disappeared with a 8-0 run by the Lakers to put the contest out of reach.

"I think they were all excited to see us," said Hornets guard and New Orleans native PJ Brown, who spoke to the crowd before the game.

"They gave us a lot of energy, the atmosphere was great, but there are a lot of more important issues for people here to have to worry about."

Next season, the Hornets will play 35 games in Oklahoma City and six in New Orleans.

However, expectations are high for a full return to Louisiana for the 2007-08 season, when the NBA All-Star Game is scheduled to play there.