The Los Angeles Lakers received some good, if not expected, news this afternoon in Charlotte, as Kobe Bryant will in fact play against the Bobcats tonight. Kobe missed shootaround this morning with "chills and aches," according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Bryant has started every game this season.
For the Bobcats, D.J. Augustin has a sore left wrist, but he will in fact start at point guard tonight, per Mike Cranston of the Associated Press. In addition, Boris Diaw will not start tonight because he overslept and missed shootaround this morning, but is expected to play in the game. Eduardo Najera will start in Diaw's place at power forward.
Here are tonight's starting lineups:
Lakers (38-17)
- Point Guard: Derek Fisher
- Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant
- Small Forward: Ron Artest
- Power Forward: Pau Gasol
- Center: Andrew Bynum
Bobcats (23-31)
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Point Guard: D.J. Augustin
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Shooting Guard: Stephen Jackson
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Small Forward: Gerald Wallace
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Power Forward: Eduardo Najera
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Center: Kwame Brown
The Lakers have lost seven of their last nine games against the Bobcats, including four of their last five in Charlotte.
For more information on tonight's game, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.