The Pacific Division champion Los Angeles Lakers look for their fifth straight win tonight, hosting the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center. Tonight is the final game of the four-game season series between the two teams, and the road team has won every contest. Back on November 14, the Suns established a franchise record by hitting 22 three-pointers in a win in Los Angeles.
Lamar Odom has averaged 17.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per game against the Suns this season, and has a double-double in all three contests. Odom started two of those three games, and he averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds in those two. Odom will start again tonight, as Andrew Bynum is serving the second game of his two-game suspension. Odom had 16 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in a start on Sunday against Portland.
The Lakers are 12-1 since the All-Star break, and currently hold a one-game lead over Dallas for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix has won two straight games after a four-game skid, and are two and a half games behind Memphis for the No. 8 seed in the West.
The Lakers on Sunday clinched the Pacific Division for the 22nd time in 41 seasons. The Lakers have made the playoffs in 58 of their 63 NBA seasons, and in 30 of the last 32 years under the ownership of Jerry Buss. The Lakers have 50 wins for the fourth straight year and 31st time in their history. Phil Jackson has won at least 50 games in 17 of his 20 seasons as an NBA head coach. Tonight's game will be televised on both Fox Sports West and TNT.
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