Tuesday NBA: Lakers (33-11) at Wizards (14-29)

The Los Angeles Lakers have looked very mortal so far on this season-long eight-game road trip as Kobe Bryant and Co. have started just 1-2. It wouldn’t seem like a loss in Washington is a real possibility with the Wizards just 8-14 at home this season, but the Lakers could be missing Ron Artest tonight.

L.A. is an 8-point favorite on WagerWeb.com.

The Lakers stopped off at the White House on Monday while in Washington to be honored by President Obama for their NBA title last season. And Artest missed the ceremony because of flu-like symptoms. Although Artest was with the Houston Rockets last season, he still planned on attending the festivities but he was vomiting during practice. He is officially questionable for tonight.

The Lakers head into this game having lost seven of their last nine road contests and are 5-5 in their last 10 games overall. After aggravating the fracture to his right finger Jan. 5, Bryant has averaged 22.9 points on 37 percent shooting in the past 10 games and he is now down to fourth in the NBA in scoring.

Washington’s Antawn Jamison is playing well, averaging 23.2 points and 9.4 rebounds during 13 games in the month of January. He could be traded soon, however, as Washington is in the midst of its fifth losing streak of at least three games this season – Jamison is averaging just 11.7 points in the current losing streak.

But of the team’s eight wins at home, three have come against teams whose win-loss records are among the top eight in the NBA: Cleveland, Orlando and Portland. The Wizards also have lost to Boston and Dallas by a combined three points.

The Lakers swept the two meetings with Washington last season and have won five in a row in the series overall. Washington’s last victory over the Lakers at Verizon Center came on Dec. 26, 2005.

Bet on the NBA at WagerWeb.com

Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Subscribe to comments You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Post Tags:

Browse Timeline