The Los Angeles Lakers look to continue their winning ways at home on Tuesday night as they host Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center. The Lakers have won six consecutive home games, but have had a problem with turnovers of late.
The Lakers turned the ball over 27 times in Sunday's eight-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the first time the Lakers turned the ball over that many times in a win since a 106-102 overtime victory at Golden State on April 20, 1999. The last time the Lakers got a win in those circumstances in regulation was a 98-96 home win over Denver on November 3, 1995.
Phoenix comes to Los Angeles having won two straight games and three of their last four, with all three wins coming at home. The Suns have a balanced scoring effort, with four players averaging between 11.4 and 12.3 points per game. 6'11" center Marcin Gortat is the Suns' leading scorer at 12.3 points per game and second in rebounding at 6.8 per contest, while the 6'11" Channing Frye leads Phoenix with 7.6 rebounds per game.
This game marks the return of Shannon Brown to Staples Center. Brown, a rotation guard who provided energy off the bench for the Lakers over the last two and a half years, signed with Phoenix as a free agent. Brown is averaging 8.3 points in 19.4 minutes per game so far this season for Phoenix.
The Lakers have won two straight games against Phoenix, and have beaten the Suns in seven of their last 10 meetings at Staples Center. Their last meeting was a triple overtime thriller on March 22, 2011 won 139-137 by the Lakers behind 42 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists from Kobe Bryant.
Tuesday night's 7:30 p.m. PST game will be televised by Fox Sports West. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.