GAME: L.A. Lakers Lakers (28-15) at Detroit Pistons (32-13)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, January 31 - 7:30 PM EST
SPREAD: Detroit -7.5 TOTAL: 197
After snapping their longest losing streak of the season in their last game, the Los Angeles Lakers hope to end a similarly frustrating stretch in Detroit .
The short-handed Lakers open a nine-game road trip Thursday, trying to avoid a ninth consecutive road loss to the Central Division-leading Pistons.
Los Angeles (28-15) will travel a total of 8,713 miles on this road swing, which spans 14 days and will take the team into the All-Star break.
"You go on the road, it's going to be a hostile environment, the home teams inevitably are going to go on runs," Kobe Bryant told the Lakers' official Web site. "The important thing for us is to keep our poise and just execute."
The trip begins in a city where the Lakers have not won since Jan. 8, 2002, having lost eight in a row at Detroit by an average of 15.8 points. That skid includes three defeats in the 2004 NBA finals.
Bryant has struggled against the Pistons (32-13), averaging 21.4 points in 20 regular-season games against them - his lowest average versus any opponent. He's been held below 20 points in three straight games against Detroit , and limited to an average of 20.3 points in 12 career games - including playoffs - at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
However, Los Angeles has been more successful lately when Bryant has not scored a lot. Over the last five games, he has averaged 20.5 points and 11.0 assists in two wins, compared to 34.0 points and 5.3 assists in three defeats.
Bryant scored 24 points in a 120-109 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday as the Lakers snapped a season-high, three-game losing streak. They rallied to win after trailing 100-91 midway through the fourth quarter.
"Defense was a hope and a prayer for the first three quarters for us tonight, but we found a way to defend a little bit at the end of the game," coach Phil Jackson said.
Los Angeles had six players score in double figures. Reserve Sasha Vujacic scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Jackson said the Lakers need players like Vujacic to step up because of injuries. Andrew Bynum (left knee), Chris Mihm (right ankle bursitis) and Trevor Ariza (broken right foot) already were sidelined going into Tuesday's game, and they were joined by Luke Walton, who left in the first quarter with a right hip pointer. His status for Thursday is uncertain.
Vujacic, averaging 6.9 points in 33 games this season and 10.8 in the last six, said he's trying to take advantage of the extended playing time.
"Everybody loves to play," Vujacic said. "My moment has arrived here with the Lakers. Unfortunately, it's because of injuries."
The Lakers now visit a Detroit Pistons team which has won three straight, including a 110-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
Rasheed Wallace had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and six Pistons scored in double figures.
This win streak is Detroit 's longest since winning 11 in a row from Dec. 14-Jan. 4. The Pistons lost six of nine after that.
Wallace said nothing specific has changed, although Detroit is shooting 48.5 percent from the field over the last three games after shooting 41.3 percent during the 3-6 stretch.
"We're just playing ball," Wallace said. "We've run into some teams that are all geeked up to play us and that just lets us know that we're still one of the top teams in this league."
Thursday's game opens a five-game homestand for the Pistons, who also will face the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers. They are 15-4 at The Palace this season.
Lakers vs Pistons news:
Detroit Pistons 91, L.A. Lakers 103
Lakers Vs Pistons Preview 11/16/07
Lakers 78, Pistons 93 02/08/07
Lakers Vs Pistons Preview 02/08/07
Lakers 83 Pistons 97 11/10/06
Lakers Vs Pistons Preview 11/10/06
Lakers Vs Pistons a look back to March 06.
•Game 5 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Game 3 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Raptors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
•Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
•Preview: Knicks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Lakers Head to Seattle Without Injured Bynum
•Preview: Bucks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Cavaliers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bulls vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs Lakers 12/05/07
•Preview: Timberwolves vs Lakers 12/04/07
•Preview: Nuggets vs Lakers 11/29/07
•Preview: Sonics vs Lakers 11/27/07
•Spurs vs Lakers Preview 11/13/07
•Preview: New Orleans Hornets at L.A. Lakers
•Lakers vs Rockets Preview 12/12/06
•Lakers vs Spurs Preview 12/10/06
•Lakers Vs Hawks Preview 12/08/06
•Lakers Vs Pacers 12/04/06
•Lakers Vs Clippers Preview 12/02/06
•Lakers vs Jazz Preview 11-30-06
•Lakers vs Bucks preview 11/28/06
•Lakers vs Nets preview 11/26/06
•Lakers vs Jazz preview 11/24/06
•Lakers vs Clippers preview 11/21/06
•Lakers vs Bulls preview 11/18/06
•Lakers Vs Raptors Preview
•Lakers Vs Pistons Preview
•Lakers Vs Grizzlies Preview
•Lakers Vs Pistons Preview
•Timberwolves Vs Lakers Preview
•Lakers Vs SuperSonics Preview
• Lakers Vs SuperSonics Preview
• Lakers Vs Warriors Preview
• Lakers Vs Suns Preview
Jordan Farmar news:
•Rookie Farmar says he's living Hollywood dream with Lakers
• Grizzlies challenge Farmar
• Stars come out at Camp
• NBA considerations distant memory for pair of eager Cats
Kobe Bryant news:
•Kobe Bryant apologizes to Lakers GM
•Kobe Bryant Wins Scoring Title
•Kobe has most popular jersey in USA, China
•Bryant Proves the Best
•Wade beats Bryant for another Skills Challenge win
•Memorabilia Offered by Kobe Bryant and Upper Deck
•Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Suspended
•Why did Kobe change to 24?
•Kobe Bryant: Won't Play This Week
•Kobe Bryant to Collab with Lil Wayne
•Lakers' Kobe Bryant ready for another run as NBA season nears
•Kobe Bryant Dunk Videos
•Kobe Bryant Videos
•Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07 for PlayStation
•Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07
Los Angeles news:
• Los Angeles news
•Los Angeles Concerts news
• Beckham Signs with Los Angeles Galaxy
• Top 10 Most Valuable NBA Franchise
• 10 Ten things to do in Los Angeles
• Lower back spasms from the court.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Restaurants.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Experiences
JR Pinnock news:
• Lakers sign JR Pinnock
Smush Parker news:
• Smush Parker Basketball Camp
Staples Center news:
•Get up to the minute Los Angeles Concert tour news
•Garth Brooks To Play Staples Center Benefit Shows For Fire Victims
•Bon Jovi Staples Center
•Van Halen Staples Center Dec 14th
•Wild try to continue hot start in LA
•Hyundai Returns to X Games 13 Rally Car Racing
• Rumorville Eric Clapton to play the Staples Center
• Grady Brewer wins 'Contender 2' in a split decision over Steve Forbes
• Cirque comes the LA Staples Center
Phil Jackson news:
• Lakers coach Jackson fined US$25,000
• Phil Jackson to have hip surgery
|
