Five Straight?
Los Angeles, CA – Despite a subpar defensive effort in their last game, the Los Angeles Lakers picked up another win.
Another poor defensive performance at home Tuesday night against the high-scoring New Jersey Nets, however, could spell trouble for the team with the NBA’s best record.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Lakers –13.5 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 209 (View Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 79% of bets for this game have been placed on Lakers –13.5 (View NBA Bet Percentages).
The Lakers (11-1) go for their fifth straight victory when they take on the Nets, who have become a dangerous offensive team of late.
Los Angeles committed a season high-tying 18 turnovers that led to 33 points in Sunday’s 118-108 victory over Sacramento. The Kings shot 53.4 percent from the field despite going 4-of-20 from 3-point range.
"I thought we were poor, defensively," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
After allowing 86.7 points per game and not permitting an opponent to reach 100 during their 7-0 start, the Lakers have given up an average of 101.0 points over their past five, with three opponents scoring 106 or more.
"I’m not happy with this win. We could have played much more solid defensively,” said Kobe Bryant, who had 24 points and six assists. "They did a good job getting out in transition. So from that aspect, we might have been a little worn down."
Los Angeles is fifth in the NBA in scoring defense at 92.7 points per game, but faces a New Jersey team that’s averaging 111.4 points and shooting 48.3 percent from the field during its current 4-1 stretch. The Nets averaged 91.7 points during their 2-5 start.
While their defense has slipped recently, the Lakers might again be able to rely on their offense to carry them past the Nets. After its season-high 118-point outing against the Kings, Los Angeles is averaging 110.8 points and shooting 48.5 percent from the floor during its four-game winning streak – 7.3 points and 4.3 shooting percentage points better than in its first eight games.
In Bryant’s last three home games against the Nets, he’s averaging 32.0 points, 6.7 assists and 2.0 steals, and New Jersey allows 103.2 points per game – fifth-worst in the NBA.
Center Andrew Bynum is among the Lakers that’s been hot on the offensive end. Bynum posted his second straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds against the Kings, and is shooting 62.9 percent while averaging 14.0 points and 9.8 boards during the win streak.
The Plainsboro, N.J. native’s best game against the Nets came Nov. 25, 2007, when he had 12 points and 13 rebounds in a 102-100 road loss.
Each of Los Angeles’ starters scored in double figures for the first time this season Sunday, and the same happened for New Jersey (6-6) on Saturday in a 112-95 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Yi Jianlian scored a season-high 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting for the Nets. In his previous four games, Yi shot a combined 9-of-30 while scoring 23 points.
"Yi really came to play tonight," said Vince Carter, who added 26 points as the Nets won their second in a row.
Carter, the league’s sixth-leading scorer at 24.3 points per game, is averaging 26.5 points and shooting 50 percent (10-of-20) from 3-point range in the last four games.
The Nets went 11-for-19 on 3s against the Clippers, and are shooting 43.8 percent from beyond the arc since losing three in a row from Nov. 8-12.
Since sweeping the Nets in the 2002 NBA finals, the Lakers have lost four of six home games against New Jersey.
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Posted: 11/25/08 1:13AM ET