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Slumping Lakers without suspended Bryant against Bucks

Mar 7, 2007 - 9:02 PM LA Lakers (33-28) at Milwaukee (22-39) 8:00 pm ESTMILWAUKEE (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Lakers will be withoutsuperstar guard Kobe Bryant on Wednesday when they face theMilwaukee Bucks.Bryant was suspended one game by the NBA for hitting MinnesotaTimbewolves guard Marko Jaric in the face in Tuesday night's117-107 double-overtime loss at Minnesota. The suspension willcost Bryant nearly $197,00 in salary.In the final minute of the fourth quarter of Tuesday's game,Bryant rose for a jumper that was challenged by Jaric. In hisfollow-through, Bryant flailed his right arm sideways anddelivered a blow to the face of Jaric.It marked the second time this season that Bryant was suspendedfor hitting an opposing player in the face. He also drew aone-game ban for a similar incident against San Antonio onJanuary 28, when he hit Manu Ginobili in the face on hisfollow-through.The Lakers absorbed a 99-94 loss to the New York Knicks duringBryant's first suspension.Without Bryant, the Lakers will be missing the NBA'ssecond-leading scorer at 29.2 points per game. Los Angeles,which has lost three straight games and nine of 12, also iswithout second-leading scorer Lamar Odom due to a shoulderinjury.Despite their struggles, the Lakers are in sixth place in theWestern Conference, 2 1/2 games in front of Denver.Milwaukee is trying to avoid its third straight loss.The Bucks wasted Michael Redd's 52-point performance andsquandered an 18-point fourth-quarter lead in Sunday's 126-121home overtime setback to Chicago.One night later, Milwaukee managed just 10 first-quarter pointsand never led in a 99-81 loss to Orlando. Redd shot just3-for-16 from the floor and scored 15 points.The Bucks ended a 10-game losing streak against the Lakers witha 109-105 victory on November 28. They seek their first sweepof the season series since the 2001-2002 campaign.