The Los Angeles Lakers look for their sixth straight win tonight, hosting the Los Angeles Clippers in the battle for Staples Center. The Lakers get Andrew Bynum back after a two-game suspension, but will the Clippers get their center back? DeAndre Jordan missed the last two games for the Clippers after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Jordan is not listed on the injury report for tonight's game, but he is also not expected to start.
The Lakers will welcome Bynum back for many reasons, but perhaps most of all because it will allow for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to rest. Gasol and Odom combined to play 193 minutes in the last two games, a number inflated by the triple-overtime win over Phoenix on Tuesday, but a ton of minutes nonetheless. Both Gasol and Odom had two double-doubles in Bynum's absence, combining to average 41.5 points and 26.5 rebounds in the last two contests.
The Clippers are also coming off a multi-overtime win, defeating the Wizards in double-overtime at Staples Center on Wednesday. After seven straight games with single-digit rebounds, Blake Griffin had a monster game against Washington, picking up his first career triple-double, with 33 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. Griffin now has 55 double-doubles, tying Elton Brand (2001-2002) for the Clippers' franchise record.
The Lakers have won two of the three matchups with the Clippers this season, and the Lakers have won seven in a row against the Clippers as the home team. The Lakers are 13-1 since the All-Star break. This is the fifth game of a seven-game homestand for the Lakers which ends next Thursday against Dallas.
For more information on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blogs Silver Screen and Roll and Clips Nation.