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Lowly Clippers meet Gasol, surging Lakers

Mar 7, 2008 - 4:44 PM LA Clippers (20-39) at LA Lakers (43-18) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After stopping a six-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Clippers will be hard-pressed to continue their success.

The Clippers take on Pau Gasol and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday in a matchup between the best and worst teams in the Pacific Division.

The Clippers avoided tying their longest losing streak of the season on Wednesday by outlasting the Sacramento Kings, 116-109, in double overtime.

Rookie Al Thornton scored 22 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and overtime sessions while Dan Dickau contributed a career-high 20 points for the Clippers.

The Clippers will have a difficult time winning back-to-back games for just the third time this season against the Lakers, who have won both matchups against their cross-town rivals this season by an average of 18.5 points.

Gasol scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half for the Lakers en route to a 113-95 victory over the Clippers the last time the teams met on February 23.

Gasol scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Tuesday as the Lakers picked up their 12th win in 13 games, forging a 117-105 victory over the Kings.