Preview: L.A. Lakers At L.A. Clippers
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
You can purchase Clippers Vs Lakers Tickets for tonights game.
THE STORY: An all-Los Angeles tilt at this time of year usually means a lot more to the Lakers than it does to the Clippers. But with both L.A.-based teams jockeying for playoff positioning, Wednesday’s game carries significance for everyone as the Lakers and Clippers do battle at the Staples Center. The Lakers sit third in the Western Conference but are just 1 1/2 games ahead of the streaking Clippers, who have won six in a row. Lakers center Andrew Bynum hopes to return to action after sitting out missing Wednesday’s near-collapse against New Jersey with an ankle injury.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Fox Sports San Diego
ABOUT THE LAKERS (34-20): It took a late surge from Kobe Bryant for Los Angeles to get past the Nets after squandering all of a 17-point advantage. Head coach Mike Brown noted this wasn’t the first time his club was caught napping. “We feel as a group that when we do get a double-digit lead, we tend to relax a little bit,” coach Mike Brown said. “The other team, they’re going to amp it up, take chances and be more physical. Next thing you know, it’s a three-point game.”
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (32-21): Los Angeles is enjoying its longest winning streak in more than 20 years, but a bigger milestone awaits. A win Wednesday would give the Clippers its first season-series win over the Lakers since the 1992-93 campaign – a development that could have a major impact on the team’s confidence level moving forward. Los Angeles is coming off an impressive 94-75 win over the defending-champion Mavericks, a game that saw the Clippers hold the Dallas Mavericks to 39 percent from the field.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Bryant, who leads the NBA in scoring, averages 25.5 points on 45.8-percent shooting in 59 career meetings with the Clippers.
2. The Lakers are 8-8 on zero days rest so far this season, while the Clippers boast a 19-9 mark on one day of rest.
3. The over has prevailed in each of the last four meetings between the clubs.
PREDICTION: Clippers 105, Lakers 101.
