The Los Angeles Lakers seek their third consecutive victory on Friday night when they take on the Phoenix Suns in a Pacific Division battle at Staples Center. Here are the relevant details for Friday night's contest, which is the first game of a home-and-home series:
Records: Lakers (17-12); Suns (12-18)
Location: Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles
Time: 7:30 p.m. PST
TV: ESPN, with Mark Jones and Jon Barry on the call; the game will also be on Fox Sports West, with Bill Macdonald and Stu Lantz on the call.
Streaming: ESPN3.com or WatchESPN.com
Offensive Efficiency: Lakers, 102.9 points per 100 possessions (15th in NBA); Suns, 101.9 (20th)
Defensive Efficiency: Lakers, 100.6 (10th); Suns, 105.5 (25th)
Home vs. Road: The Lakers are 12-2 at home this season; the Suns are 7-10 on the road this season.
Streaks: The Lakers have won two straight and are 6-4 in their last 10 games; the Suns have lost three straight and are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Series History: The Lakers have beaten the Suns in their last three meetings and are 7-3 in their last 10 regular season home games against Phoenix.
Season High: Kobe Bryant scored 48 points, an NBA season high in points, in the Lakers' 99-83 win over Phoenix on January 10 at Staples Center.
Double-Double Man: Pau Gasol, who scored 16 points and had 12 rebounds in the January 10 win over the Suns, has seven consecutive double-doubles, averaging 18.6 points and 14.0 rebounds in the last seven contests.
For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.