AP
Projected Starting Lineup: Shaun Livingston, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Andray Blatche.
When & Where: 7:30 P.M., Barclays Center, Brooklyn.
Watch: YES Network
Listen: CBS WFAN 660 AM, 101.9 FM
Injury Report
Official Game Preview
Los Angeles Lakers
Projected Starting Lineup: Shaun Livingston, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Andray Blatche.
When & Where: 7:30 P.M., Barclays Center, Brooklyn.
Watch: YES Network
Listen: CBS WFAN 660 AM, 101.9 FM
Injury Report
Official Game Preview
Check out the advanced box score from last night's 92-83 Lakers upset over the Brooklyn Nets here.
Some brief takeaways:
- Kobe Bryant had the lowest points produced of any professional basketball player that plays for the Lakers (Chris Duhon doesn't count), and was without question the catalyst for their victory. That's Kobe Bryant in a nutshell. P.J. Carlesimo said that Gerald Wallace's job on Kobe Bryant was "exceptional," and that's true, to some degree -- Kobe struggled to score through most of the night. But, well, you know.
- Brook Lopez had a monster line that, when you adjust for playing time and possessions, is roughly what his line would look like if he played 40 minutes in every game. On the one hand, it's refreshing that Lopez can maintain a high level of production even when Carlesimo stretches his minutes to his longest regulation game of the season. But on the other, he played what he called "the worst 2 1/2 minutes of his season" in the final 150 seconds.
- I'm going to contribute as much analysis to the bench mob as they contributed to last night's game.
- Three difficult numbers to look at: the turnover rates from Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, and Reggie Evans. Evans did grab over 50% of available defensive rebounds, and overall played a fine game within his role. But he played about 23 minutes, and probably shouldn't play much more than that.
WARM-UPS
Lakers Lets come in and get This Big Win Against Brooklyn Nets
— RAY RICE (@BIGRAY562) February 6, 2013
Brook Lopez just called for a higher lob in warm-ups...who's he foolin'?#Lakers #Nets
— Martin Knezevic (@NBAKnez) February 6, 2013
Tonight's crowd at Barclay's for Nets/Lakers is mostly Lakers fans. Lots of #24's in the house.
— James Ward (@JamesWardCBS) February 6, 2013
DAMN NO ARTEST AND NO HOWARD TONIGHT AGAINST THE NETS...SMH...MAY NOT BE A GOOD NIGHT
— Prince T Moore (@gunjahsmoke) February 6, 2013
But I'm still New York Knicks Fan Til I Die!Brooklyn Nets Suck! But I love Brooklyn, Glad I Was Born Here.
— sdm (@runnin247) February 6, 2013
An example of Lopez's mistake. (AP)
Bryant, who shot a pedestrian 9-24 from the field, threw down an emphatic slam on Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries in the fourth quarter, and later scored on a twisting layup that helped catapult the Los Angeles Lakers to their 92-83 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn at Barclays Center AKA The Black House. After an and-one bucket by All-Star Center Brook Lopez gave him his second 30-point game of the season and the team a slim 83-82 margin with 2:33 left, the Nets did not score again as Los Angeles rattled off 10 points to seal the victory.
"I'm not... MORE →
Just when you thought Kobe Bryant did Gerald Wallace dirty enough with this crossover, he does it again: getting to the lane and throwing down one of the dunks of the year. Watch:
Kobe Bryant (AP)
Tonight: The 28-19 Brooklyn Nets host the 22-26 Los Angeles Lakers, at 7:30 P.M. EST tonight in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. The Lakers have found a rhythm after moving Pau Gasol to the bench and allowing Kobe Bryant to take over creative duties, winning five of their last six games. The Nets haven't played since Friday, when they eked out a 93-89 victory over a shorthanded Chicago Bulls squad.
Watch & Listen: Tonight's game is broadcast on YES Network. Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel are on the call. The game is also broadcast nationally on NBA TV. In the car? The game is radio simulcast on WFAN, and in Spanish on WADO.
More on tonight's game, including injuries and stats, after the jump... MORE →
Dwight Howard (AP)
"I understand about all the trade talks," said Howard. "But (Lakers president) Jim Buss has made it clear that nobody is getting traded. (GM) Mitch (Kupchak) has made it clear, and they're going to leave the decision at the end of the year up to me. But I think it's too early to separate this team."
Howard, who underwent season-ending back surgery last April and has struggled to return to 100% form since, says his back is about 75%. "This is my first year coming off back surgery. I really don't think people understand the severity of the surgery and how long it takes to recover."
As far as his expectations for the Lakers? "Getting to the playoffs and winning a championship. (It) hasn't changed."
Read/Watch More: ESPN -- D12 on Nets: Can't think about that
Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard and small forward Metta World Peace will both sit tonight's game out vs. the Brooklyn Nets. Howard is nursing a shoulder injury that's kept him in and out of the lineup for the past few weeks, while the inappropriately named World Peace has been suspended one game for grabbing Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Knight around the neck and striking him in the jaw.
Without Howard or World Peace, the Nets' chances of winning increase drastically against a Lakers team that is just 8-18 on the road this season. Los Angeles will likely re-insert Pau Gasol into the starting lineup. They may also move Earl Clark to small forward and start either Antawn Jamison or Robert Sacre.
Kobe Bryant (AP/Mark J. Terrill)
Tonight, the Brooklyn Nets take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Here's some quick background on why these teams are connected off the court.
... MORE →
