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Lakers Vs. Pistons: Kobe Bryant Poised To Join Top 10 NBA Scoring List

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The way the Los Angeles Lakers have been playing, it is understandable that there is a lot of unhappiness at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant, for instance, was rather surly after Sunday's loss, saying of his recent technical foul binge, "F**k it, I don't care. I can afford it." However, tonight's game with the Detroit Pistons looks to provide some good feelings for the Lakers.

For one, the Pistons have lost three straight road games and 11 of 12 away from home. They are 11-23 on the season, the inverse record of the Lakers. Detroit is playing on the second night of a back-to-back. In short, the Lakers should be able to win this game.

Also, Bryant is continuing his march up the all-time NBA scoring list. Kobe has scored 26,654 points in his career, the most in Lakers franchise history, which currently ranks 11th all-time in NBA history. Bryant is 15 points from passing Dominique Wilkins for 10th place on the scoring list, putting him in rarefied air:

NBA All-Time Scoring List
Rank Player Points Avg
6 Moses Malone 27,409 20.6
7 Elvin Hayes 27,313 21.0
8 Hakeem Olajuwon 26,946 21.8
9 Oscar Robertson 26,710 25.7
10 Dominique Wilkins 26,668 24.8
11 Kobe Bryant 26,654 25.4

Bryant has scored 17 points or more this season in 32 of 34 games. He has already passed John Havlicek on the scoring list this season, and barring injury should end up in sixth place on the all-time scoring list by the end of the season. That will make for an interesting scoring list, with Kobe one spot behind Shaquille O'Neal in the annals of NBA history.

For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.