The Los Angeles Lakers could understandably be looking ahead to their Christmas Day showdown with the Miami Heat, but they still have one more game to play beforehand. The Lakers host the Milwaukee Bucks tonight at home, after six games away from Staples Center. After a home-heavy early schedule, the just-completed seven-game road trip has pushed the Lakers to the other end of the spectrum. Only the Minnesota Timberwolves, with 11, have played fewer home games than the 12 played by the Lakers.
The Lakers have won five straight games, including the last four (all with Andrew Bynum) by double digits. The Bucks have lost their last three games, and are 3-10 on the road this season. The Lakers are 10-2 at home. The Lakers have won their last six meetings with the Bucks, including a 118-107 win in Milwaukee on November 16.
After tonight's game with Milwaukee, the Lakers' schedule gets considerably tougher in the next week or so. After battling the 21-9 Heat on Christmas, the Lakers play back-to-back games next week on the road against the 24-3 San Antonio Spurs and 16-12 New Orleans Hornets. As C.A. Clark notes on Silver Screen and Roll, the Lakers have played the easiest schedule in the NBA by far this season, but overall the schedule won't get considerably tougher consistently until the middle of January. So, enjoy tonight's game against the Bucks as a pre-Christmas snack.
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