The Los Angeles Lakers need a win (or a Dallas loss) to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, but will be facing a hostile crowd in perhaps the final Kings home game after 26 years in Sacramento. The Lakers will be without center Andrew Bynum, as they wait for results on his MRI. In addition, Steve Blake (chickenpox) and Matt Barnes (sore right knee) are out as well.
The Lakers will clinch the No. 2 seed in the West with a win, or a Dallas loss at home to New Orleans. The Kings' crowd though figures to be fired up as the team could be moving to Anaheim this offseason. Expect a raucous crowd tonight at Arco Arena.
The Lakers called up Derrick Caracter from the D-League, and will have Trey Johnson, whom they just signed, available as well. The Lakers lead the season series with the Kings, 2-1. Sacramento picked up a 100-95 win at Staples Center on January 28. The Lakers have beaten the Kings in 14 of their last 17 encounters, and have not lost at Arco Arena since December 9, 2008.
For more news and information about the Lakers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.