After two embarrassing losses at home, the Los Angeles Lakers return to the road trying to recapture their winning ways against the team with the best record in the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs. The longtime rivals do battle tonight at AT&T Center, the first of four meeting this season between the two teams. Tonight's contest features the top two offenses in the league, even though the Lakers have not been playing that well of late.
The Spurs lead the league in offensive rating, averaging 112.9 points per 100 possessions, a shade above the Lakers, who average 112.3 points per 100 possessions. However, over their last nine games, the Lakers are averaging 105.0 points per 100 possessions, and have had an offensive rating under 100 four times, including each of the last two games, both losses. The Lakers have scored 100 points in just five of their last 16 contests.
The Lakers last two games were so rare in that it was only the third time in franchise history that the club has lost two straight home games by 16 or more points. The other two times it happened came in 1959, when the team played in Minneapolis. Tonight marks the first of back-to-back games, as the Lakers play in New Orleans on Wednesday night. The Lakers so far this season are 4-1 in the first game of back-to-back games, and 4-1 in the second game as well.
The Spurs had a 10-game winning streak snapped last Thursday in Orlando, but have an NBA-best 26-4 record. It is the best start in franchise history for the Spurs, who also had a 12-game winning streak earlier this season. The Spurs are 17-2 at home this season, having played the most home games in the league. The Lakers are 11-5 on the road this season, winning their last five contests away from home. They won their last game in San Antonio as well, defeating the Spurs 92-83 last March 24.
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