GAME: Phoenix Suns (52-27) at Los Angeles Lakers (43-37).
TIME: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT.
After a record-setting performance, Kobe Bryant tries to help the Los Angeles Lakers clinch a postseason berth as they host the Phoenix Suns in a potential first-round playoff matchup at the Staples Center.
Bryant scored 50 points Friday, breaking Elgin Baylor's single-season points record, as the Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 110-99 for their third straight win and ninth in the last 12 games.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Suns-Lakers Preview
Hornets-Lakers Preview
GAME: New Orleans Hornets (38-43) at Los Angeles Lakers (44-37).
TIME: Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. EDT.
Teams generally would prefer going into the playoffs coming off a win. The Western Conference team to which it may matter the most is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers can clinch the the seventh seed in the West, and avoid a first-round series with the defending champions, if they defeat the New Orleans Hornets in the regular season finale for both teams.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Los Angeles Lakers Roster Report
ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Smush Parker, Shooting guard Kobe Bryant, Small forward Lamar Odom, Power forward Brian Cook, Center Kwame Brown. Bench -- Guard Sasha Vujacic, Forward Devean George, Forward Luke Walton, Guard Jim Jackson, Forward Ronny Turiaf, Center Andrew Bynum, Forward Devin Green. PLAYER NOTES: --Point guard Sasha Vujacic nearly got into an altercation with Hornets guard Speedy Claxton with 5.4 seconds left in the game Sunday night.
Nets 92, Lakers 89 (AP)
Jason Kidd's offensive woes continued, so he turned back the clock and produced a defensive performance that belied his years. Kidd was a major reason the New Jersey Nets held Kobe Bryant to 24 points, 11 below his average, in a 92-89 win Friday night. Nenad Krstic scored 26 points and tapped in a missed shot by Vince Carter with 13 seconds left for the winning points, and Bryant missed a long...
Los Angeles Lakers Notes, Quotes
--The Lakers have a three-day break before playing again Thursday against San Antonio. The Lakers have another three-day break the following Monday through Wednesday, as well. --Kobe Bryant joked with Hornets rookie Chris Paul with 38.2 seconds left in the game Sunday night about the difficulty of drawing foul calls. QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're just trying to get momentum; gain confidence as a team.
Cavaliers 96, Lakers 95 (AP)
Forget the Kobe vs. LeBron hype. This one belonged to Flip. In a matchup of two of the league's top three leading scorers, Flip Murray took over. The way LeBron James sees it, Murray set the tone for Cleveland's playoff run as well. Murray hit a free throw with 3.4 seconds left and scored 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter Sunday, leading the Cavaliers to a 96-95 victory over the Los Angeles...
Lakers 87, Kings 80 (AP)
Kwame Brown has taken a lot of heat from the hometown fans and media in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He heard only cheers Wednesday night. Kobe Bryant scored six of his 28 points in the last three minutes, Brown had a season-high 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 87-80 to move into seventh place in the Western Conference.
Lakers 105, Celtics 97 (AP)
After missing 3-pointers at the buzzer in consecutive games, Kobe Bryant settled matters early against the Boston Celtics. Bryant had 43 points, five rebounds and five steals and the Los Angeles Lakers salvaged the finale of a three-game road trip with a 105-97 win over Boston on Monday night. Bryant shot 18-for-39 and Lamar Odom added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who never trailed...
Lakers 101, Bucks 96 (AP)
Kobe Bryant got the Los Angeles Lakers off to a fast start with his marksmanship behind the 3-point arc. He won it for them at the free throw line. Bryant scored 43 points, including six foul shots in the final 20 seconds, and the Lakers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 101-96 Friday night to record their first three-game winning streak in more than two months.
Lakers 105, Hornets 94 (AP)
Kwame Brown's sore hamstring held up well enough to allow the Los Angeles Lakers to put some distance between themselves and one of their major threats to a playoff berth. Brown finished with 17 points, helping the Lakers beat the New Orleans Hornets 105-94 Sunday night for their fourth straight victory.
Kwame Brown may finally be coming of age (AP)
Passes still slip through his hands, free throws clank off the rim, and there's not much chance Kwame Brown is going to make a jump shot from any significant distance. All that being said, Brown performed like an All-Star in perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers' most important game of the season to date, and seems to be making significant strides recently.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. They are notable for having (at the end of the 2004–05 season) the most wins (2,621), the highest winning percentage (61.9%), the most finals appearances (28), and the second most championships (14), behind the Boston Celtics who have 16. They also have the record for most consecutive wins in a season (33).
