[11] LOS ANGELES LAKERS (15-18)
Starting 5
PG: Steve Nash
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Metta World Peace
PF: Antawn Jamison
C: Robert Sacre
VERSUS
[6] HOUSTON ROCKETS (20-14 )
Starting 5
PG: Jeremy Lin
SG: James Harden
SF: Chandler Parson
PF: Marcus Morris
C: Omar Asik
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Date/Time: January 08 - 5:00pm
Venue: Toyota Center - Houston, TX
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Previous Match Ups
11/18/12: Lakers won (119-108)
12/04/12: Rockets won (107-105)
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Game Notes:
If this season hasn't already been trying enough, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered another big blow entering this week.
The slumping Lakers won't have frontcourt players Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill for a difficult two-game road trip that begins Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets, who will seek a season high-tying fifth straight win.
Los Angeles entered this season as one of the favorites for the franchise's third title in five seasons, but the Lakers (15-18) and their new players have never seemed to click. The team got to .500 after a five-game win streak last month but is 1-4 in its last five and is one shy of tying its season-high four-game skid from Dec. 7-13.
Los Angeles' chances of ending that losing streak don't appear promising with its recent injuries.
Howard, a six-time All-Star acquired from Orlando in the offseason, tore the labrum in his right shoulder Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers and re-aggravated it while matching a career high with 26 rebounds in a 112-105 loss to Denver on Sunday. He's expected to sit out a week before being re-evaluated.
Gasol, a four-time All-Star, suffered a concussion when he took an elbow in the face during Sunday's loss, and his backup, Hill, has an injured right hip. Both players are out indefinitely.
The Lakers will likely bring up 7-footer Robert Sacre, the last player taken in this year's draft, from the D-League to start at center. Metta World Peace, who is 6-7, might also be used at that spot.
With that patchwork frontcourt, Los Angeles will have to face the Rockets (20-14) and Southwest Division-leading San Antonio in back-to-back road games. It's unknown if the Lakers will have those players back for a four-game homestand that starts against Oklahoma City on Friday and ends against Miami on Jan. 17.
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I. STILL. BELIEVE.
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