The Los Angeles Lakers have played a lot of basketball in the last week, and continue their busy schedule Saturday night, opening a three-game road trip with a battle against the Phoenix Suns at U.S. Airways Center. Here are the relevant details for Kobe Bryant and the gang Saturday night in Phoenix:
Records: Lakers (35-21; third in Western Conference); Suns (28-27; 10th in West, two games out of playoff spot)
Location: U.S. Airways Center in downtown Phoenix
Time: 7 p.m. PDT
TV: KCAL, with Bill Macdonald and Stu Lantz on the call
Offensive Efficiency: Lakers, 105.7 points per 100 possessions (11th in NBA); Suns, 105.3 (14th)
Defensive Efficiency: Lakers, 103.2 (11th); Suns, 105.8 (20th)
Home vs. Road: The Lakers are 12-15 on the road this season, though they have won six of their last seven road contests. The Suns are 16-11 at home this season.
Series History: The Lakers are 2-1 against the Suns this season, with the home team winning all three meetings. In their last meeting, the Suns prevailed 102-90 in Phoenix on February 19.
Home Weary: The Lakers are playing their fourth game in five nights, and their sixth game in eight nights. Though the first five of those six games all came at Staples Center, including one road game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
For more news and notes on Lakers basketball, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.