Bobcats at Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers return home in search of their third straight victory Tuesday when they host the reeling Charlotte Bobcats. Los Angeles attempts to match its longest winning streak of the season
with a victory over Charlotte, which is beginning a four-game road trip
of its own. The Bobcats desperately need a win as they have dropped 11
games in a row since posting a double-overtime triumph over the Wizards
in Washington on Nov. 24
Los Angeles began a four-game road trip with setbacks at Cleveland and New York that extended its losing streak to four contests. The Lakers bounced back and salvaged a split on the trek with triumphs in Washington and Philadelphia. The Bobcats have been stuck on seven victories since beating the Wizards to match last season's total. Charlotte had two losing streaks of at least 12 games in 2011-12 en route to its 7-59 record.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Charlotte), Time Warner Cable SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (7-16): Charlotte is one of the few teams that has given Los Angeles fits. The Bobcats are 8-7 in the all-time series, putting them with the Boston Celtics as the only clubs against which the Lakers are .500 or worse. Kemba Walker set career highs with 11 field goals and 32 points in Saturday's loss to Orlando. Walker is averaging 21.5 points over his last eight games. The Bobcats are the only team in the league with two players averaging 13 points or more off the bench. Ramon Sessions leads the way with an average of 14.4 while Ben Gordon is at 13.1.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (11-14): Superstar Kobe Bryant has been on fire of late, contributing at least 30 points in each of his last six games and averaging 34.3 during that span. The veteran is the first player in NBA history to reach the 30-point plateau in six straight contests at the age of 34 or older. Bryant leads the league in scoring with an average of 29.5 points but has averaged only 20.4 against Charlotte since the start of the 2009-10 campaign - his second-lowest mark versus any opponent. Forward Metta World Peace is coming off a career-best 16-rebound performance against Philadelphia on Sunday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers had not won consecutive games since capturing three in a row from Nov. 16-20.
2. Charlotte has lost its last three road games in the all-time series, dropping it to 3-5 at Los Angeles.
3. Walker has scored in double figures in 22 of his 23 games this season.
PREDICTION: Lakers 112, Bobcats 98.