Lakers at Nets
The Los Angeles Lakers made a recent run up the Western Conference standings largely due to significant improvement on the defensive end. That trend has been reversed with back-to-back ugly losses and the Lakers will try to rediscover their form on that end of the floor when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
Los Angeles, which won eight of 10 before this week began, gave up an average of 125 points in setbacks at Toronto and Orlando, with both opponents shooting at least 50 percent from the floor. "We lost by 30 (actually 22) to the team that has the worst record in the league," rookie Kyle Kuzma told reporters after the 127-105 loss to the Magic. "That's kind of deflating, but give credit to them. They beat us." The Nets don't normally light up the scoreboard but they did manage 116 points in a win over Philadelphia on Wednesday to snap a four-game slide. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 27 points while making 13-of-15 free throws as Brooklyn posted its best scoring output since Dec. 23.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (19-31): After averaging 19.5 points in December, Kuzma dipped to 12.5 in January and finished it with a whimper, shooting 12-for-34 while averaging nine points in the first three games of the current road trip. Center Brook Lopez played a season-low nine minutes and returns to Brooklyn - where he starred for nine seasons - on a frustrating note, leaving without talking to reporters in Orlando. Lopez had his best game of the season in a matchup with the Nets at home in November, producing 34 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
ABOUT THE NETS (19-33): D'Angelo Russell, acquired in the deal that sent Lopez to Los Angeles, is working his way back from knee surgery and had his best effort since his return last month with 22 points in 17 minutes versus Philadelphia. "They got some talent over there and for us to get any win in this league is definitely a start, so hopefully we can capitalize on it and keep building," Russell told reporters. Rookie center Jarrett Allen is beginning to make his presence felt and is averaging 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 83.3 percent over his last five games, including back-to-back starts in which he made 11-of-12 shots.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lakers PG Lonzo Ball (knee) missed eight straight games but is reportedly nearing a return.
2. Brooklyn SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and SG Caris LeVert have both missed three games in a row due to groin injuries.
3. SG Allen Crabbe led the Nets with 25 points in the 124-112 loss at Los Angeles earlier this season.