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Lakers face Clippers with eye on league's best mark

Apr 5, 2009 - 6:25 AM By Matt Beardmore Stats Writer

LA Clippers (18-58) at LA Lakers (60-16), 9:30 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Lakers have dominated the Western Conference this season, but that's not enough for a franchise hungry for its first NBA championship in seven years.

The Lakers take a seven-game winning streak against the Los Angeles Clippers into Sunday night's home game as they try to make a push toward the league's best record.

Back from a seven-game road trip, the Lakers (60-16) improved to 32-5 at home with Friday's 93-81 win over the Houston Rockets - their second straight victory following a pair of losses to end March. They achieved the 60-win plateau for the first time since going 67-15 in the 1999-2000 championship season, coach Phil Jackson's first with the franchise.

"We have to make an attempt for (the league's best record)," Jackson said. "I wouldn't feel good about it, even with these players, if we didn't. We really don't have to threaten our well-being by doing it, I don't think."

The Lakers trail Cleveland by one game for the league's best record, which ensures home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Kobe Bryant's first-quarter technical foul against the Rockets proved he isn't just coasting through the final few regular-season games.

"I wanted to send a message to my teammates and to the referees that we're here to play, we're not going to be out here just kind of going through the motions," said Bryant, the only player who has been with the Lakers the entire time since their last title in 2002. "If a guy's going to grab my shirt, I'm going to let you know about it. It's important to come out with a sense of urgency right from the top. We're fighting for a bigger prize."

Bryant is averaging 20.3 points in three matchups with the Clippers this season, but he hasn't had to put up gaudy numbers as the Lakers have won by an average margin of 22.3.

In the Pacific Division rivals' last matchup on Jan. 21, Bryant recorded his 16th career triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

Teammate Pau Gasol is seeking his ninth double-double in 10 games.

The struggling Clippers (18-58) return to Staples Center for what's technically a road game looking to snap a four-game skid. Saturday's 120-104 defeat at Denver was the Clippers' 23rd road loss in their last 26 away from home.

Zach Randolph posted his 28th double-double of the season with 22 points and 12 rebounds for the injury-plagued Clippers, who had only nine players available.

Randolph will face the Lakers for the first time this season. Acquired from the New York Knicks on Nov. 21, the power forward missed the Clippers' Jan. 21 loss with a sore left knee.

The Clippers won't have to face Lakers center Andrew Bynum (torn left MCL), who scored a career-high 42 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the teams' last matchup, but they also likely won't have their own starting center. Marcus Camby has missed three straight games with a sprained left ankle.

The Clippers have not defeated the Lakers since a 118-110 win April 12, 2007.