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Without Bynum, Lakers seek seventh straight win

Jan 14, 2008 - 3:13 PM LA Lakers (25-11) at Seattle (9-27) 10:00 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Lakers are on their longest winning streak since they last made a trip to the NBA Finals. Their immediate future, however, doesn't look as bright.

With Andrew Bynum staying back in Los Angeles to nurse a sprained left knee, the Lakers travel to Key Arena on Monday to face the Seattle SuperSonics, looking for their seventh straight victory.

In the third quarter of their 100-99 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, Bynum was injured when he landed on teammate Lamar Odom's foot and was helped off the court.

While X-rays were negative, Bynum did not travel with the team Sunday night and will undergo an MRI Monday morning.

The 20-year-old center is averaging 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game for the Lakers, whose winning streak is the longest since an 11-game run from March 13-April 2, 2004. Los Angeles went 56-26 that season before losing to the Detroit Piston in the NBA Finals.

While Bynum will be sitting out Monday, Seattle will welcome back their best post threat, forward Chris Wilcox, from a four-game absence while he recovered from a dislocated pinky finger.

Wilcox, the Sonics' second-leading scorer with 13.3 points per game, will be needed to help Seattle rebound from its season-worst offensive output - a 90-70 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Wally Szczerbiak scored 17 and rookie Kevin Durant added 15 in the loss.