Lakers at Clippers
Who says the Los Angeles Lakers get all the credit for theatrics in Hollywood?
The Los Angeles Clippers have shown a flair for the dramatic lately, despite some pathetic play. They'll be out to show they can stay with their more popular tenant when the teams meet at Staples Center on Wednesday night for the first of four matchups this season.
The Clippers (5-17) are the designated home team for the game, but they won’t have nearly as many fans as the Lakers (15-6), who are favored by 10 points and have dominated Los Angeles basketball for decades. The Clippers already trail the Lakers by 10 1/2 games in the Pacific Division.
The Clippers’ 102-91 win over the Lakers on Jan. 6, snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Lakers. It was the Clippers’ first victory over the Lakers since April 12, 2007 – a 118-110 victory.
In Monday’s 98-91 victory over Sacramento, the Clippers nearly blew a 16-point lead but rallied behind Eric Gordon’s 29 points. The wild rally led rookie Blake Griffin to quip: “I would’ve rather stayed on the kiddie ride.”
The Lakers (15-6) dropped Washington to 0-11 on the road with a 115-108 victory Tuesday night at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant scored 32 points and Lamar Odom had 24 points. Pau Gasol, who had sat out Saturday night with fatigue, had 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
The Clippers will be without forward Brian Cook, who will serve the second game of a two-game suspension for a flagrant foul and ejection in Sunday’s 100-91 loss to Portland on Sunday. Cook shoved Joel Przybilla in the chest as Przybilla went up for a layup at the end of the third quarter.
Also in that game, Portland guard Andre Miller was suspended one game for “making excessive and unnecessary contact with Blake Griffin of the Clippers” with 7:06 left in the fourth.
Two other Clippers – Baron Davis (hamstring) and Chris Kaman (ankle) – are questionable for tonight’s game. Kaman missed Monday’s game and Davis left in the fourth quarter.
Griffin is one bright spot in a spotty start for the Clippers. The former Oklahoma star missed all of last season with a stress fracture and subsequent surgery on his left knee, but he is the early favorite for Rookie of the Year.
He leads all rookies in scoring (20.2), rebounds (11.8), dunks (45) and already has 15 double-doubles. His downfall could be free-throw shooting as he is making just 57.2 percent.