NETS GAMENIGHT: #Nets @ #Lakers
BROOKLYN NETS (25-28) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS (19-36)
Staples Center 9:00
TV: YES RADIO: WFAN 660/101.9FM
[quote_simple]NETS STARTERS
The starting lineup will be Deron Williams playing alongside Joe Johnson in the backcourt with Paul Pierce and Andrei Kirilenko up front and the man in the middle Mason Plumlee.
The Nets are looking to rebound from their loss to the Warriors last night 93-86 in Golden State with a win tonight in Los Angeles.
They are now 1-1 on the circus road trip out west and wont play again until Wednesday in Portland so a win is a must.
LAKERS STARTERS
The Lakers starting lineup will be Kendall Marshall and Jodie Meeks in the backcourt with Kent Bazemore, Wesley Johnson and Pau Gasol playing in the frontcourt.
Nick Young scored a game-high 26 points off the bench to help the Lakers post a 99-94 victory at Brooklyn on Nov. 27 so a season sweep is at stake.
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Game Notes:
The Nets re trying to snap a five-game losing streak at the Lakers and their 11-game overall losing streak to the Lakers.
If Brooklyn wins they would clinch at least a split of the season series with both Los Angeles teams for the first time since 2005-06.
Nets are 10-10 this season vs. Western Conference teams, including a 6-2 mark since Jan. 1
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[quote_simple]WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Block out the minutia
The Nets are making history tonight by signing the first openly gay professional athlete in the NBA in Jason Collins so the media exposure will be immense.
“The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision,” Billy King said in a statement. “We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract.”
Brooklyn Needs to get through all of the hoopla this will bring and focus on a bad Lakers team and leave with a win while they are shorthanded again.
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[box]INJURY REPORT
NETS
Marcus Thornton – GTD (food poisoning)
Kevin Garnett – OUT (rest)
Shaun Livingston – OUT (bruised tailbone)
Brook Lopez – OUT (ankle)
LAKERS
Kobe Bryant – OUT (fractured left knee)
Pau Gasol – probable (strained right groin)
Xavier Henry – OUT (right knee bone bruise)
Steve Nash – OUT (nerve root irritation)
Nick Young – probable (left knee fracture and bone bruise)
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