The 8-4 Lakers lost both games against the New Jersey Nets last season and get a chance to change that this season with a Sunday night game at Staples Center. Their defense hasn't been great lately, so the proven talents of New Jersey point guard Jason Kidd will provide a challenge.
After winning a dramatic, closely contested game against the Clippers on Tuesday night, the Lakers lost such a game in Utah on Friday night. The NBA-leading Utah Jazz rallied past the Lakers for a 114-108 victory, dropping the Lakers to 8-4.
Kobe Bryant had a team-high 27 points, but had just two in the fourth. Lamar Odom (26 points) and Kwame Brown (15) were the Lakers top scoring options in the final quarter, but it wasn't enough.
Friday's loss was the Lakers' only true road game between Nov. 10 and Dec. 10. Of their 14 games in that span, 12 are at home while the only road contests are against Utah and the Clippers at Staples Center on Dec. 2.
Meanwhile the 5-7 New Jersey Nets left home with hopes of a winning annual trip to the West Coast, hopes that were smashed quickly when they blew leads and lost in Seattle and Portland and then came apart in Phoenix. Now they'll close out this season's version in L.A. against the Lakers and Kobe Bryant on Sunday.
The Nets will be interested in watching young Andrew Bynum, one of the last to make the jump from high school to the pros. Bynum was averaged just under 10 points and 6.8 rebounds in 22 minutes. Another interesting match up to watch will be good friends, and former Arizona teammates, Luke Walton of the Lakers and Richard Jefferson of the Nets going at each other.
The Nets replacements made an impressive run in the fourth quarter Friday, outscoring the Suns by 13. Unfortunately, the Nets entered the quarter down 19. For three quarters, Steve Nash and the Suns had their way with the Nets, shredding their defense in every way possible. Finally, the Nets mounted a comeback with an entire second-unit alignment and got to within three points, but too much of a mess already had been made. So the Suns survived with a 99-93 victory in Phoenix, where the Nets have lost 13 straight.
The defeat was the Nets' fourth in a row, matching their longest run of last season. It also kept them winless on their current road trip, which ends Sunday against the Lakers in L.A. Rookie Marcus Williams keyed the late surge, scoring 21 of his 27 points in the quarter, including 13 in a row to get the Nets within 96-93. Steve Nash, though, sealed the win with three free throws as Phoenix won 99-93.
Carter finished with 23 points, but played only 29.5 seconds of the fourth quarter. Kidd had seven points on 3-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds and five assists before sitting out the fourth.
The Nets +4½ or +5 depends on how early you catch this. Bet the road dog their tired and frustrated and on the road and looking to go home. They need one win and won’t go home with an easy loss. Bet the total over 191½, no brainer.
