The Los Angeles Lakers are in search of their seventh straight win, continuing their road trip with a swing through Atlanta to face the slumping Hawks. The Lakers are 23-11 on the road this season, the third best road record in the NBA. The Hawks are 18-11 at Philips Arena this season, but they have lost their last two games, both at home. Atlanta is 4-8 in their last 12 games.
The Lakers have held their last four opponents to 87 or fewer points, and have held nine of their last 15 points to under 90 points. The Lakers beat the Hawks 104-80 at Staples Center on February 22, which began their current winning streak. In the victory over the Hawks two weeks ago, Kobe Bryant scored 20 points and had five assists, while Pau Gasol had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Joe Johnson, who leads the Hawks averaging 19.1 points and 5.2 assists per game, scored 14 points in defeat on February 22.
The Lakers have lost each of their last three games in Atlanta, which the last win coming on February 5, 2007. Bryant is 13 points shy of catching Moses Malone for seventh place on the NBA all-time scoring list. Matt Barnes, who played 14 minutes on Sunday following missing 26 games after knee surgery, is listed as probable for tonight's game, as is Derek Fisher, who has a sprained left elbow. Both Fisher and Barnes are expected to play against the Hawks.
For more news on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.