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Bobcats at Lakers
10:30 p.m., Staples Center
TV: SportSouth. Radio: WFNZ-AM 610
Projected Starters
| Bobcats | Lakers | ||||
| Pos, Player | ppg | rpg | Pos, Player | ppg | rpg |
| G, K. Walker | 18.1 | 3.1 | G, C. Duhon | 4.3 | 2.2 |
| G, G. Henderson | 13.2 | 3.0 | G, K. Bryant | 29.3 | 5.3 |
| F, M. Kidd-Gilchrist | 11.0 | 6.3 | F, M. Peace | 13.1 | 5.4 |
| F, B. Mullens | 11.8 | 7.3 | F, D. Ebanks | 4.2 | 2.3 |
| C, B. Biyombo | 4.6 | 2.2 | C, D. Howard | 18.2 | 12.0 |
Matchup to Watch
Kobe Bryant vs. Gerald Henderson: Two Philly guys, two highly athletic shooting guards. Henderson, recently back in the starting lineup, tests what he can do with the NBA’s leading scorer.
Observations
• The Lakers just returned from a long East Coast trip. For the Bobcats, this is the first of four games in five nights out West.
• Some of Bismack Biyombo’s best moments last season involved guarding Dwight Howard, then with Orlando.
• Bobcats backup point guard Ramon Sessions opted out of the final season on his contract with the Lakers to hit the free-agent market. He’s been a strong addition to the Bobcats.
Tap-ins
• The Bobcats are still one of just two NBA teams (along with Boston) to have a .500 or better all-time record against the Lakers. They’re 8-7 in the series.
• Lakers forward Pau Gasol (knee tendinitis) is close to returning to the active roster.
• Average margin of defeat in the Bobcats’ current 11-game losing streak is 13.9 ppg.
Did you know?
Bernie Bickerstaff, the Bobcats’ first coach-general manager, served as Lakers interim coach this season between Mike Brown’s firing and Mike D’Antoni taking over. Bickerstaff was 4-1, considerably better than either Brown or D’Antoni this season. Bickerstaff continues as a Lakers assistant.
Rick Bonnell
