• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Crosstown rival Lakers, Clippers playing for playoff lives

Apr 12, 2007 - 3:25 PM LA Clippers (37-40) at LA Lakers (40-38) 10:30 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling to hold onto a playoff berth. The Los Angeles Clippers are on the outside looking in.

The Lakers look to reverse their recent losing ways and inch closer to a postseason spot Thursday when they host the Clippers in a Pacific Division battle.

The Lakers are seventh in the Western Conference but have lost six of their last eight games. Despite the slump, the Lakers still own a two-game lead over eighth-place Golden State (38-40) in the Western Conference standings.

The Clippers, who have five games remaining, are one half-game behind Golden State for the eighth seed. They have dropped three straight contests since capping off a stretch in which they won seven of eight by beating the Lakers, 90-82, on April 4.

Kobe Bryant scored 23 points - eight below his league-leading average - and missed 21-of-30 shots in a 115-111 loss to Denver on Monday.

The Clippers dropped a double-digit lead for the second time in three games in Tuesday's 103-100 overtime loss to the New Orleans Hornets despite 37 points from Elton Brand.

The Lakers are 2-1 against the Clippers this season and 40-12 in the series since the 1994-95 season.