Battle of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA – Maybe the Los Angeles Clippers’ road jerseys will make a difference on Wednesday against their city rivals.
Because the last time they played the Los Angeles Lakers, they left Staples Center with the worst home opening-game defeat in franchise history.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Lakers -15 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 191 (View Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 61% of bets for this game have been placed on Lakers -15 (View NBA Bet Percentages).
Since losing 117-79 to the Lakers on Oct. 29, the Clippers have dropped three in a row for their first 0-4 start since an 0-17 beginning to the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, when they finished 9-41.
"We need to start building from here, getting guys minutes and getting guys playing together for really the first time," said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, whose team has lost its four games by an average of 21.5 points. "We haven’t really played together since the beginning of training camp."
First-year Clippers Baron Davis and Marcus Camby played their first game together on Monday, but the result was another loss – 89-73 to Utah. After missing the entire preseason and first three games with a bruised right heel, Camby had five points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench.
Davis was back after sitting the previous two games with a sore left hip. He added 14 points, nine assists and three rebounds.
"I didn’t really feel like myself," said Davis, who hit 3-for-7 from 3-point range, but missed six of eight shots inside the arc. "They were able to make the run, and we didn’t. We’re a work in progress. It’s going to take some patience."
Chris Kaman posted his third consecutive double-double in Monday’s loss with 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. He’s averaging 13.3 points and ranks among the league leaders with 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
While the Clippers are trying to build continuity and some momentum, the Lakers have been running on full throttle all season, winning their first three games by an average of 21.7 points.
In Saturday’s 104-97 victory at Denver, they shot 37.9 percent from the field and nearly had as many turnovers (15) as assists (18), but Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his game-high 33 points in the final 6:50 for the Lakers’ first come-from-behind win of the season.
"We were stuck in the mud, and it’s my responsibility to get it going," said Bryant, who has 16 points in each of the Lakers’ last three games against the Clippers – all wins.
Andrew Bynum looks ready to go on Wednesday after straining the rotator cuff in his right shoulder while attempting to block a shot in Monday’s practice. Bynum completed all of Tuesday’s practice, according to coach Phil Jackson.
"He had some discomfort but he played all right, he played right through it," Jackson told the team’s official Web site. "He went to work and did his job."
Bynum has averaged 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in seven career games against the Clippers, including last Wednesday’s 12-point, nine-rebound outing.
The Lakers have won the last five meetings with the Clippers by an average of 28.4 points. The Clippers’ last win in the series was 118-110 on April 12, 2007, despite 50 points and nine rebounds from Bryant.
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Posted: 11/5/08 12:59 AM