Lakers at Magic
The Los Angeles Lakers have posted two four-game winning streaks this month and look to start a new one when they visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Los Angeles' latest stretch of four wins a row ended Sunday, when it fell 123-111 to Toronto in the second contest of its five-game trip.
Rookie point guard Lonzo Ball (left knee) will miss his eighth consecutive game but could return later on the trip - either Friday against Brooklyn or Sunday versus Oklahoma City. Coach Luke Walton is maintaining the cautious approach and said he needs to see Ball ramp it up before he considers putting him back in the lineup. Orlando has dropped 20 of its last 23 games, and the team's backcourt defenders had no answer for James Harden on Tuesday as Houston's star set a franchise record with 60 points while posting the first 60-point triple-double (11 assists, 10 rebounds) in NBA history. Magic power forward Aaron Gordon (hip flexor) missed the 114-107 setback and will be sidelined again versus the Lakers.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (19-30): Julius Randle is finishing off a strong month in which he has recorded seven double-doubles while averaging 15 points and nine rebounds per game. Regaining a starting role was a big step for the 23-year-old's rise in production, and Walton said Randle's defensive improvement and increased aggressiveness played a part in that decision. "He has been great," Walton told reporters. "And the bully is to, it is more just (being) our aggressor so that we have somebody who is physical on our team, who stands up (for the team) when we get pushed around."
ABOUT THE MAGIC (14-35): Coach Frank Vogel wasn't thrilled to see an opposing player put up 60 points on his team, but he also marveled in the display Harden put on while seeing his own squad stay in the game. "That was pretty special," Vogel told reporters of Harden. "Our guys competed and I hate to keep saying this, but I'm proud of the togetherness and energy that our group is playing with and the belief that our group is playing with. You've got the (possible league) MVP playing 46 minutes and putting his team on his back, and we still have a chance to win late." The Magic made 15 3-pointers and committed just 12 turnovers, but a 19-point fourth quarter hurt their chances of posting a victory.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Magic have won eight of their last nine home games against the Lakers.
2. Orlando PG Elfrid Payton scored just four points on Tuesday after averaging 18.5 over his previous four contests.
3. Los Angeles rookie SF Kyle Kuzma is averaging eight points on 7-of-21 shooting over his last two games.