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The Los Angeles Lakers will try to avoid a winless preseason slate when take on the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night in San Diego.
The Lakers 0-7 preseason record is the worst in the history of the franchise. Los Angeles' vaunted starting five of Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace has only taken the floor once in exhibition play -- last Sunday night in Sacramento. Bryant will miss Thursday night's game with a strained right foot, and Howard will be a game time decision. The Lakers lost to the Clippers 91-91 at Staples Center on Wednesday night.
Sacramento is 4-2 this preseason but is coming off a 103-88 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. Kings head coach Keith Smart has yet to settle on a starting lineup for his squad, and has used a different lineup in each of the team's six preseason games. Only third-year center DeMarcus Cousins has started in all six games. Cousins has led the Kings in scoring and rebounding in the preseason, averaging 15.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego and the game will be televised on Time Warner Sports Network.