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Clippers go for rare series win over Lakers

Apr 4, 2012 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - There will be a playoff-type atmosphere at Staples Center tonight when the Clippers play the host against the Lakers in a huge Pacific Division matchup.

The Lakers currently lead the Clips by 1 1/2 games for both the Pacific lead and the third seed in the Western Conference after a big win over New Jersey on Tuesday.

The Clippers, however, are riding a six-game winning streak and will be attempting to win the season series against their co-tenants for the first time in 19 years on Wednesday.

Kobe Bryant rattled in the game-sealing three-pointer with 6.8 seconds left in regulation on Tuesday, as the Lakers survived the Nets' late rally and pulled out a 91-87 win at Staples Center.

Bryant finished with 24 points, including the go-ahead bucket with 71 seconds to play and a three-pointer that bounced off the rim no less than five times in the closing seconds.

The Lakers won their third straight game despite being without center Andrew Bynum, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury. Pau Gasol stepped up with 22 points and 12 rebounds in Bynum's absence, while Ramon Sessions added 19 points and 11 assists for the Pacific Division leaders.

Holding a double-digit lead in the fourth, the Lakers seemingly went on cruise control in anticipation of Wednesday's bout against the Clippers.

"We like to make it interesting. When we get a double-digit lead we tend to relax or the other team doesn't want to be embarrassed," Lakers head coach Mike Brown said.

The Clips, meanwhile, come in off an impressive rout of Dallas in Big D on Monday when Randy Foye scored a game-high 28 points as the Clippers rolled over the Mavericks, 94-75.

"I was just being aggressive," said Foye. "My main thing was to just come out and be aggressive."

Blake Griffin added 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers, who had lost the previous 10 road contests against the Mavericks. The last time the Clips won in Dallas was on April 19, 2006.

Caron Butler finished with 13 points and Chris Paul contributed eight with 10 assists in the victory, which extended the Clippers win streak to six, their longest since another six-game run from March 18-31, 1992.

The Clippers haven't won more than six consecutive since an eight-game spurt from Nov. 30-Dec. 15, 1991. Meanwhile, the franchise hasn't won the season series over the Lakers since 1992-93.