Lakers at Pelicans
The Los Angeles Lakers have set a dubious franchise record for the
second straight season as they arrive in New Orleans for Friday's game
against the Pelicans. The Lakers fell 91-81 to the Los Angeles Clippers
on Wednesday for their 62nd defeat, breaking the team mark set last
season.
That kind of futility isn't what Kobe Bryant had in mind for his final NBA season and he has just four games remaining before his 20-year career ends. Bryant scored 17 points in Wednesday's 91-81 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers but his shooting woes continued as he was just 6-of-19 from the field. The Pelicans only have nine healthy players and asserted themselves well on Wednesday despite suffering a 104-97 loss to the Boston Celtics. "We played hard and we competed like crazy," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "We got down and kept plugging away at it. Just couldn't seem to make a couple plays at the end that would get us over the hump."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TWC SportsNet (Lakers), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE LAKERS (16-62): Los Angeles has lost 11 of its last 13 games and Bryant is struggling with his aim as he is just 21-of-77 from the field over the past five. Rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell has also resembled a brick layer as he is just 21-of-74 from the field over the past five outings. However, Russell did set a franchise rookie record by making two 3-pointers against the Clippers to raise his season total to 125, passing Nick Van Exel (123 in 1993-94).
ABOUT THE PELICANS (29-49): All five New Orleans players averaging more than 15 points are done for the season and guard Toney Douglas (7.6) had the highest average among the starters against the Celtics. Douglas played like a scorer with 19 points while reserve point guard Tim Frazier also fared well with 18 points. Starting forward James Ennis had 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and is averaging 12.4 points in five games since being signed out of the D-League.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers have won the past two meetings after losing the previous four.
2. Los Angeles PF Julius Randle collected a career-best 20 rebounds on Wednesday and is averaging 14 boards over the past four contests.
3. Frazier tweaked an ankle against Boston and is expected to play against the Lakers - he's averaging 15.4 points over the last five games.