The Los Angeles Lakers, who saw their winning streak come to an end at the Boston Celtics', will look to get back in the win column Tuesday night when they visit the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center. On the other hand, the hosts need a win badly, as they have only one victory in nine games since the All-Star break.
Match Preview
The Lakers’ recent surge was stopped cold in a 111-101 loss to the Celtics at TD Garden on Sunday. Even with a halftime deficit of just four, they were soundly beaten in the first part of the second half as they fell behind by 16 and ultimately had too much to do in the last quarter.
LeBron James and Luka Dončić were, once more, the stars of the show, amassing 56 points, 22 rebounds and 12 assists between them. But that was not enough to stop a Boston team that controlled the game. The defeat saw the Lakers drop to third in a dogfight Western Conference, where just five wins separate second-placed Denver Nuggets from seventh-placed Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers will be confident of coming up trumps against a struggling Brooklyn Nets side as they hope to get back on the right path. Los Angeles has swept the last two meetings between the teams, including a tight 102-101 decision in January. The visitors will be intent to avoid two straight road losses for the first time since January 20, with tough away matches against the Milwaukee Bucks and uh Denver Nuggets to follow.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, endured another painful defeat, losing to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, 105-102, despite a 15-point halftime lead. A late-game collapse allowed Moussa Diabaté to hit a clutch shot in the last 94 seconds to steal the game for Charlotte.
D'Angelo Russell was a bright spot for the Nets with a season-high 28-point showing. Russell, who was traded from the Lakers to the Nets in February, is playing against his former team for the first time and will be eager to hit the floor and help the Nets get back in the win column. But with the Brooklyn’s next two games against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, Brooklyn has its work cut out.
Team News
The Nets are still without De’Anthony Melton, who has been lost for the season with an ACL injury, and Cameron Johnson is doubtful with a knee problem.
LeBron James (groin), Rui Hachimura (knee) and Maxi Kleber (foot) will be out for the Lakers, and Jaxson Hayes is doubtful with a knee.
Prediction
Despite James’s absence, the Lakers should have enough firepower to dispose of a Brooklyn squad that is hobbled. Los Angeles to win by a comfortable margin — maybe double digits.
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