Lakers Vs. Suns: L.A. Opens Road Trip In Phoenix

The Los Angeles Lakers look to get back on track Saturday night as they open a three-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns at U.S. Airways Center in downtown Phoenix. The Lakers will be playing their fourth game in five nights and sixth game in their last eight days.

The Lakers (35-21) lost 112-107 at home Friday night to the Houston Rockets, to see their Pacific Division lead over the Los Angeles Clippers shrink to just one game in the loss column. But the Lakers do hold the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series with their crosstown rivals.

The Lakers have beaten the Suns in two of their three meetings this season, with the home team winning all three games. Kobe Bryant has led the Lakers in scoring in all three games against Phoenix, scoring at least 32 points in each game, and averaging 38.7 points per contest. The Lakers are 6-4 in their last 10 trips to Phoenix.

The Suns had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 105-99 loss Friday night in Denver. Phoenix is 16-11 at home this season, including a 102-90 win over the Lakers on February 19. The Suns (28-27) are in 10th place in the Western Conference, but two games out of a playoff spot.

Grant Hill is out for the Suns with a medial meniscus tear in his right knee.

Saturday night's 7 p.m. PDT game will be televised by KCAL. For more news and notes on Lakers basketball, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.