Jazz at Lakers
THE STORY: The chase continues atop the Western Conference standings Wednesday as the Los Angeles look to gain more ground on San Antonio. The Lakers welcome the Utah Jazz to town as they begin the night 2 1/2 games back of the Spurs for the top seed in the conference. Utah is on the outside of the playoff race, and has dropped eight in a row.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE LAKERS (55-21): L.A. suffered a setback in its surge to catch the Spurs, dropping a 95-90 decision to the red-hot Denver Nuggets. It was the first loss in 10 games for the Lakers, who have six games remaining to the Spurs' five. Kobe Bryant had 28 points to lead the Lakers, who fell to 17-2 in 19 games since the All-Star break. Los Angeles will get the chance to make up additional ground in the final week of the season when it hosts San Antonio in a game that could decide the conference champion. Before that, the Lakers will need to find a way to stay focused against a Jazz side that appears to have thrown in the towel on the season.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (36-41): Utah's long losing streak already includes one defeat at the hands of the Lakers, and there is little to suggest it won't be extended Wednesday night. The Jazz have been downright dreadful over the last three weeks, going winless on a three-game road trip before returning home and losing four more times. Utah saw its losing skid hit eight Sunday with a 106-97 defeat in Sacramento. Paul Millsap had 21 points and Kyle Weaver added 19 for the Jazz, who are mired in their longest losing streak since 2005.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Lakers C Andrew Bynum is making the most of his limited shots, hitting at a 65.7-percent clip over his last five games. Jazz F/C Al Jefferson is headed in the opposite direction, shooting just over 40 percent over his last four outings.
KEY STATISTIC: Utah is just 5-18 since coach Jerry Sloan resigned and Ty Corbin took over.
SEASON SERIES: The Lakers have won two of three meetings so far this season. Utah earned a 102-96 victory on Nov. 26 before L.A. bounced back with a 120-91 rout Jan. 25 and a 96-85 triumph last week.
KEY INJURIES: L.A. LAKERS: F Devin Ebanks (leg). UTAH: C Francisco Elson (knee); G Devin Harris (hamstring); F Andrei Kirilenko (knee); G Raja Bell (foot); G Ronnie Price (calf); C Mehmet Okur (back).
LAST WORD: "You don't get too high or too low. You don't listen to the praises or the criticisms. You go out there and do your job the best way you can. When the game is over, you forget about it and move on to the next one." - Bryant, speaking on the team's 17-2 run since the break.