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Bynum, Lakers welcome in Pacers

Jan 6, 2008 - 2:57 PM Indiana (16-18) at LA Lakers (20-11) 9:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Lakers will try to make sure the Indiana Pacers' five-game West Coast swing gets off on a sour note on Sunday.

On Friday, Andrew Bynum continued his steady growth with 17 points and 16 rebounds in helping the Lakers coast to a 124-93 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers.

"We moved the ball, we ran the offense better and we definitely defended better," said the 20-year-old Bynum, who has registered 16 double-doubles on the season.

Los Angeles, which had beaten Indiana eight straight times at Staples Center, is seeking its first season series sweep of the Pacers since the 2002-03 campaign.

In their first matchup on November 20, superstar Kobe Bryant buried Indiana for 32 points on 8-of-16 shooting as the Lakers rolled to a 20-point win in Indianapolis.

Los Angeles should also get a boost in this one as versatile forward Lamar Odom returns after serving his one-game suspension.

Danny Granger poured in a career high-tying 32 points as the Pacers snapped their five-game losing streak with Friday's 113-91 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

"It becomes sort of mental to a point," Granger said. "We gave some games away to teams we probably should have beaten, but we got some good momentum going into the West Coast. Those losing streaks potentially ruin seasons, so I'm glad we snapped it."