Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will look to get back on track with a morning affair Sunday at Prudential Center against the New Jersey Nets. The Lakers are playing their first day game of the season. The loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night was the fifth in eight games for the two-time defending champions.
The Lakers are a far cry from their 13-2 start. After averaging an NBA-best 111.5 points per game in their first 15 games, they have scored just 97.8 points in their last eight games, scoring 100 points twice. They scored 100 points or more in 13 of their first 14 games, and scored 99 points in the other contest.
The Lakers have beaten the Nets five straight games, and they have beaten New Jersey in seven of their last eight encounters. The Lakers have won four straight games in New Jersey, with their last loss coming March 17, 2006. The Nets began this season 2-0, but are now 6-17 and have lost their last six games. The Nets are 4-6 at home this season.
Bryant scored 23 points in the loss to the Bulls on Friday night, and in doing so passed John Havlicek for 11th place on the all-time NBA scoring list. Among the walking wounded Lakers, both Pau Gasol (strained left hamstring) and Lamar Odom (sore right foot) are listed as probable, while Derrick Caracter is day-to-day with a sprained left ankle. For the Nets, both Devin Harris (sprained left shoulder) and Derrick Favors (right thigh contusion) are questionable.
For more Lakers news and analysis, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.