Hawks at Lakers
THE STORY: The last time the Atlanta Hawks went on a five-game trip (Jan. 23-31), they finished 4-1 for their best record since going 5-0 in 1968-69, their inaugural season. Atlanta begins another five-game journey Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers return home, where they are 11-2, after a 3-3 trip that ended with a 94-92 victory at Toronto. “We've just got to keep getting better little by little, and again, whether we won or lost (in Toronto), I thought we got a little better,” coach Mike Brown said.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Hawks), FS West (Lakers)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (18-10): Maybe it’s a good thing the Hawks are getting out of town. They have lost four of five at home, and were trounced 107-87 by Miami on Sunday. “You're only as good as your last game,” power forward Josh Smith said. “And we were awful. So we have to take whatever people say about us and just use it as motivation.” Center Jason Collins (strained left elbow) will be evaluated Wednesday in Los Angeles. He is expected to miss two weeks.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (16-12): The Lakers’ six-game trip was supposed to determine just where this team might be headed. Instead it raised doubt and was inconclusive. So it is not surprising that the Lakers worked out free agent guard Gilbert Arenas, a three-time All-Star, on Sunday. “We are a poor road team, and that is what we need to turn around,” said Kobe Bryant, who scored the winner at Toronto. “If we could figure out a way to win on the road, our record would be much, much better. We are a very good home team.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Atlanta has lost five consecutive games in Los Angeles, last winning there on Feb. 15, 2006.
2. Hawks guard Joe Johnson needs 13 points to reach 10,000 for his career.
3. Los Angeles has not lost a season series to the Hawks since 1978-79, losing three of four games. Tuesday’s game will be their only meeting this season.