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Lakers try to stop slide versus Bucks

Dec 31, 2013 - 3:30 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Lakers will try to halt a five-game losing streak Tuesday night when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at the Staples Center.

The Lakers haven't won since Dec. 20, a home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. That was the Lakers first game without Kobe Bryant in the lineup and since, they've lost them all, including two in a row at home.

On Sunday, LA helped end the Philadelphia 76ers' 13-game road losing streak with a 111-104 setback. Pau Gasol missed yet another game with an upper respiratory ailment.

Nick Young, a former Sixer, led all scorers with 26 points on 6-of-21 shooting from the field, including just 2-of-11 from deep for LA. He did, however, shoot a perfect 12-for-12 from the foul line.

Jordan Hill and Shawne Williams each recorded double-doubles in defeat with Hill registering 18 points and 13 rebounds and Williams scoring 11 with 10 boards.

"We have to start playing better and get some wins." said Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni. "We have to battle. The biggest thing is keeping our guys' spirits up."

The Lakers have two more at home before hitting the road for three straight. They welcome the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets on this residency.

The Bucks have lost three in a row and eight of their last nine as they head west for three games. Milwaukee will also visit Utah and Phoenix.

Their most recent loss came Saturday night, at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 117-95.

Khris Middleton paced Milwaukee with 23 points, while O.J. Mayo and Brandon Knight scored 19 and 18 points, respectively, in defeat. Larry Sanders, starting in place of John Henson who sat with a sprained ankle, scored nine points with 10 rebounds for the Bucks

Henson did not travel with the team for this trip as Bucks head coach Larry Drew suggested that Henson will be sidelined "at least two weeks." Henson is averaging 12.4 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game and ranks fifth in the league with 2.25 blocks per contest.

The Bucks and Lakers split last season's meetings and the Bucks have won three of the last four encounters. Milwaukee, which has lost four straight on the road, has dropped 17 of its last 20 as the visitor in this series.