Lakers-76ers Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Dec 15 2012 10:44PM

Despite the efforts of the NBA's scoring leader, the Los Angeles Lakers have sputtered along without their starting point guard.

The Philadelphia 76ers also struggled without their top playmaker last time out, and could be without him again.

While the Lakers try to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly four weeks, the host 76ers look to avoid their first three-game skid when the teams meet Sunday night.

Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant, who tops the league at 29.3 points per game, scored 30 on 9-of-29 shooting as Los Angeles (10-14) snapped a four-game losing streak with Friday's 102-96 win at Washington.

Bryant hasn't received much help from the point guard spot while starter Steve Nash and reserve Steve Blake have been out with injuries. Nash (broken leg) has appeared in only two games, and is expected to return to practice next week. Blake (pulled abdominal) isn't likely to be back until at least late January.

Chris Duhon has filled in and averaged 6.6 points and 6.0 assists while the Lakers have gone 2-5 in his starts.

Los Angeles, which hasn't won two in a row since a season-best three-game run from Nov. 16-20, has also dropped five of seven without power forward Pau Gasol, who is expected to miss his eighth straight game with knee tendinitis.

"Every good offense is a rhythm, and our rhythm is offbeat right now," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "It's like we've got two left shoes, trying to dance."

The 76ers (12-11) can't afford to be without Jrue Holiday for very long after he missed Friday's 95-85 loss at Indiana because of a sprained right foot. With Philadelphia already without former Laker Andrew Bynum (bruised right knee), coach Doug Collins opted to keep Holiday on the bench rather than risk further injury.

Holiday, who is a game-time decision, leads the team in scoring at 18.4 points per game and ranks third in the league with 8.9 assists.

"We're erring on the side of caution," Collins said. "I don't want him out there playing on one foot and getting back spasms of something because he's playing on one foot. ... I'm hoping it's going to be a few days is what I'm saying."

If he can't go, Philadelphia is expected to let Evan Turner play the point and start Nick Young for the second straight contest. Turner had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Young had eight points on 4-of-14 shooting against the Pacers.

Spencer Hawes looks to continue his improved play after finishing with 18 points. The 7-foot-1 center is averaging 14.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in his last three games.

Philadelphia is averaging 89.7 points in going 2-5 this month, but might be able to find some open looks against the Lakers, who had allowed an average of 111.8 points during its skid before holding offensively challenged Washington in check.

"We're not there yet, we're not even close. We're not close to being a good team," D'Antoni said. "But can you build on it? I hope so."

Dwight Howard, who had 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks against the Wizards, could be a factor against a 76ers defense that was outscored 40-26 in the paint Friday.

Howard has averaged 21.8 points and 15.6 rebounds in his last five games at Philadelphia.

The Lakers lost 95-90 in Philadelphia in the only meeting last season, snapping a four-game winning streak in the series.

Bryant helps Lakers top 76ers 111-98

Posted Dec 16 2012 10:39PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are winning again. It's just a two-game streak, but it's still a turnaround from their abysmal play of late.

Bryant scored 34 points, Metta World Peace added 19 points and a career-high 16 rebounds and the Lakers won consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month with a 111-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Dwight Howard had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who led 60-50 at halftime. Darius Morris had a career-high 15 points, all in the first half, and Chris Duhon scored 14. It was World Peace's first double-double since Jan. 13, 2010, at Dallas.

The Lakers (11-14), who beat Washington 102-96 on Friday night, won two in a row for the first time since a three-game streak from Nov. 16-20.

"It's guys playing with confidence and guys trusting each other," said Bryant, who was 12 for 21 from the field and 8 for 9 from the free-throw line. "We played well, communicated well, kept attacking and good things happened. I know the questions have been coming because we hadn't been winning, but our time will come."

Even without injured stars Steve Nash and Pau Gasol, the Lakers hardly resembled the team which entered the night four games below .500. Bryant has scored at least 30 points in six consecutive games.

"We did a great job of attacking early and then we stayed with it," he said. "Our bench did a great job and stepped up and our whole team stepped up and just played with confidence."

Nick Young paced the reeling Sixers (12-12) with 30 points while Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner added 16 apiece. Thaddeus Young had 14 for Philadelphia, which dropped its third straight game for the first time this season.

"We just have to keep working, keep going to practice and go back to the drawing board," Thaddeus Young said.

Like the Lakers, the Sixers also have been playing short-handed. Point guard Jrue Holiday, who averages a team-best 18.4 points, missed his second consecutive game with a sprained left foot.

Los Angeles led 87-73 after three, but the Sixers closed to 91-82 with 8:27 remaining.

The Lakers responded with a 9-3 surge to go back up by 15 at 100-85 with 5:15 left. Suddenly, all those boos careening down from the rafters toward Bryant and his teammates turned into fans heading up the aisles to leave the building.

"They knocked down a lot of 3s and they kind of spread the floor," Nick Young said. "You have to give them credit."

Los Angeles was 14 for 34 from 3-point range. Duhon was 4 for 10 from beyond the arc, and World Peace and Morris each made three 3s.

"Guys are playing well, we had open looks and guys were able to knock them down," Duhon said. "I think you have to take what the defense gives you."

The Lakers' 10 3s in the first half broke the record for most in a half at the Wells Fargo Center, which opened in 1996.

NOTES: Jordan Hill, a forward-center with Los Angeles, was a late scratch with back spasms. ... Sixers C Kwame Brown started for the eighth time. He also has seven DNP-Coach's Decision this season. Brown received a technical foul with 10:39 left in the third quarter. . Including this game, the Sixers are playing 10 of the next 12 against teams from the Western Conference. . Eagles running back LeSean McCoy attended the game. ... The Lakers went 19 for 24 at the line, compared to 6 for 11 for the 76ers.

Notebook: Lakers 111, 76ers 98

Andy Jasner, For NBA.com
Posted Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:05 PM - Updated Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:05 PM

THE FACTS: Kobe Bryant scored 34 points in an impressive 40-minute performance, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers past the Philadelphia 76ers 111-98 Sunday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Metta World Peace scored 19 points and swept a career-high 16 rebounds while Dwight Howard also contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds. Darius Morris had a career-best 15 points for the Lakers. Chris Duhon scored 14 points and Jodie Meeks had 12 against his former team. The Lakers improved to 11-14.

Nick Young scored a season-high 30 points for the Sixers, who fell to 12-12 and lost their third straight game for the first time this season. Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes had 16 points each and Thaddeus Young added 14.

QUOTABLE: "When you throw the ball up every night, it's about 48 minutes of playing hard. Two nights in a row, it's worked."

-- Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, on the team's first two-game winning streak in almost one month

THE STAT: The Lakers were 14-for-34 from 3-point land. Five different Lakers converted at least one trey.

TURNING POINT: After the Sixers closed the gap to 91-82 early in the fourth quarter, the Lakers pulled away with a quick 9-3 spurt. From that point, they were never threatened again.

HOT: Bryant was 12-for-21 and World Peace knocked down six of his 10 shots. Morris made his first five shots and finished 5-for-8.

NOT: Turner missed 10 of his 16 shots and never found his rhythm for the Sixers. The same goes for sharpshooter Jason Richardson, who misfired on five of his eight attempts.

QUOTABLE II: "We have to keep moving forward, keep working hard and good things will happen."

-- Kobe Bryant

INSIDE THE ARENA: Forget the fact that the Lakers have been struggling. Whenever Bryant and the Lakers come to Philadelphia, the crowd is always electric. This was no different. The fans were energetic from the opening tip and remained that way all night. Former Sixers greats Wali Jones and Julius Erving were part of the honorary tip before the game started. Eagles running back LeSean McCoy also was in attendance and received a nice ovation.

QUOTABLE III: "We have to keep playing and keep fighting and focusing in."

-- Thaddeus Young

GOOD MOVE: The Lakers were given open looks from beyond the arc and, to their credit, they kept shooting. Yes, the Lakers were 14-for-34, but they started 10-for-15 and it gave them a 10-point lead at halftime which never was relinquished.

BAD MOVE: The Sixers' coaching staff probably could have started forward Dorell Wright and given him more minutes, especially since they were short-handed. Wright's minutes have been up and down much of the season. He came off the bench and played 26:14.

ROOKIE WATCH: Lakers center Robert Sacre was scoreless in 6:11. For the Sixers, guard Maalik Wayns didn't score in a brief 50-second stint while forward Arnett Moultrie received a DNP-CD.

NOTABLE: Sixers point guard Jrue Holiday missed his second straight game with a sprained left foot. ... Lakers center Jordan Hill sat out with back spasms. ... The Lakers set a Wells Fargo Center record -- dating to 1996 -- for most 3-pointers made in a half with 10 in the first half. ... The Lakers also made seven straight shots in the first quarter. ... Sixers center Kwame Brown received a technical foul early in the third. ... The Lakers improved to 10-6 when scoring 100 or more points. ... Bryant reached 30 or more points for the sixth game in a row. ... World Peace's double-double was his first since Jan. 13, 2010. ... The Lakers have hit 10 or more 3-pointers 10 times this season. ... Young became the second Philadelphia player to reach the 30-point plateau in a game this season. Holiday accomplished the feat with 33 against Phoenix on Nov. 25.

NEXT: For the Lakers, Tuesday vs. Charlotte, Saturday @ Golden State, Dec. 25 vs. New York. For the Sixers, Tuesday @ Dallas, Wednesday @ Houston, Friday vs. Atlanta.

• Lakers: Blake, Johnson-Odom, Nash
• 76ers: Bynum

• Lakers: --
• 76ers: Brown

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #49 Tom Washington, #44 Eli Roe, #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 20338
• Duration: 1:58