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Bryant, Lakers aim to clinch playoff berth

Apr 15, 2007 - 4:50 PM Seattle (31-48) at LA Lakers (40-40) 9:30 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Superstar Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will try to do one more time.

Bryant hopes to guide the Lakers on of their recent funk and a postseason possible postseason berth when they welcome in the Seattle SuperSonics on Sunday.

Los Angeles can earn their second straight playoff appearance with a win and a loss by either the Clippers (39-40) or Golden State, who are just one-half game behind for seventh place in the Western Conference standings.

"I think that we've been a pretty good do-or-die team all year," Bryant said. "When we're faced with a huge challenge and our backs are against the wall, we come out and play well. We don't have much of a choice now, we need to come out and play well."

The Lakers, who have dropped eight of their last 10 games, can also clinch if they win the final two games of the season.

The reigning scoring champ, Bryant followed up his ninth career 50-point outburst with just 17 points on 7-of-26 shooting in Friday's 93-85 setback at Phoenix.

Rashard Lewis scored 29 points and Chris Wilcox added 20 and 11 rebounds as Seattle suffered its three straight loss Saturday, a 108-102 decision to the Portland Trial Blazers.

Seattle, which is in last place in the Northwest Division, has lost two of its last three meetings with Los Angeles this season.