Lakers at Jazz
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Lakers are rolling like Secretariat down the stretch as they have won eight in a row and are 16-1 since the All-Star break. The Lakers could have a thin bench Friday night when they play at reeling Utah. Steve Blake, Matt Barnes and Shannon Brown were ejected Thursday night in skirmishes and could be suspended for tonight’s game. Utah will also be without four regulars as it tries to end a six-game losing streak.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Fox Sports Utah
ABOUT THE JAZZ (36-39): Utah can only hope it has as much fight as the Lakers. The Jazz will try to avoid their seventh consecutive loss since a nine-game losing streak March 4-19, 2005. Utah lost 100-95 in overtime to Washington on Monday. The Wizards entered that game 1-35 on the road. The Jazz will be without starters Andrei Kirilenko (left knee), Devin Harris (strained hamstring), Raja Bell (right foot), plus reserve guard Ronnie Price (calf). "We’re going through adversity — we’re losing games," said coach Tyrone Corbin, whose team is 5-16 since he took over for longtime coach Jerry Sloan. "[But] the attitude is still … to put forth an effort and give [ourselves] a chance to win."
ABOUT THE LAKERS (54-20): Los Angeles earned a 110-82 victory over Dallas on Thursday night, but it was a hard-fought victory to say the least. Blake was shoved by Jason Terry after driving to the basket with 9½ minutes remaining. Both were ejected along with Barnes and Dallas’ Brendan Haywood. Brown was later tossed shoving Brian Cardinal, who fouled Pau Gasol. “This is a family here,” Barnes said. “So if someone comes and hits your brother, pushes your brother, then you definitely have their back. And that’s the case here.” Additionally, three fans also were ejected, including one who rushed down stairs toward the Dallas bench. The victory pulled the Lakers 2 ½ games behind San Antonio for the best record in the West and gave them a 1½-game lead over Dallas.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Kobe Bryant scored 28 points against Dallas and is averaging 34.3 points over his last four games. Utah’s Al Jefferson has 33 double-doubles this season and has scored in double figures in 19 of his last 20 games. Derrick Favors had 11points and 10 rebounds on Monday or his first double-double since joining the Jazz last month.
KEY STATISTIC: Lamar Odom scored 16 points Thursday to reach 12,002 for his career, making him the 23rd player in NBA history to have 12,000 points, 7,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists.
SEASON SERIES: This is the third of four meetings, and the teams have split the first two games. The Lakers have taken each of the last four season series from Utah.
KEY INJURIES: LOS ANGELES: F Devin Ebanks (leg); C Theo Ratliff (knee). UTAH: G Raja Bell (sprained right foot); G Devin Harris (strained right hamstring); F Andrei Kirilenko (knee); G Ronnie Price (calf); C Kyrylo Fesenko (migraine).
LAST WORD: “It just shows that we’re geared up. We’re getting really close to being ready and we’re locked in and focused. When we’re like that, we’re a tough team to beat.” – Kobe Bryant the Lakers’ winning streak.