The Los Angeles Lakers continue their road trip Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, and the game will be without a pair of key figures. Lakers head coach Mike Brown was suspended for Monday's game and fined $25,000 for bumping official Zach Zarba Saturday night in Utah, and 76ers power forward Elton Brand will miss Monday night with a sprained thumb.
Brand, who missed Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks, was ruled out for Monday by head coach Doug Collins at practice on Monday, per Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News. Brand is averaging career lows in points (10.1), rebounds (6.7), and minutes (27.6) per game this season.
Kobe Bryant, who attended Lower Merion High School a mere 15 miles from the Wells Fargo Center, where the 76ers now play, needs 24 points to pass Shaquille O`Neal for fifth place on the NBA all-time scoring list. Bryant, who leads the NBA in scoring this season at 29.4 points per game, has scored at least 24 points in 20 of 24 games this season.
The Lakers have beaten the 76ers in seven of their last eight matchups, including winning their last four trips to Philadelphia.
Monday night's 4 p.m. PST game will be televised by KCAL. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.