Tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET the Los Angeles Lakers (7-7) will take the court for the first time since injured leader Kobe Bryant was inked to a massive two-year deal making him the highest-paid player in the NBA for the length of that contract. They'll be at the Verizon Center in Washington, taking on the Wizards (5-8) in NBA action that can be live streamed here. Lakers fans can hear the action on 710 ESPN, while Wizards fans can tune in to Sports Radio 106.7 The Fan.
The Wizards entered the year with elevated expectations, but have struggled to a 5-8 mark so far. Now, they've lost promising shooting guard Bradley Beal for several weeks, meaning John Wall will need to shoulder a larger load in his stead.
"John backed up (Friday's) game with another really good game for him. Playing the right way, taking really good shots," coach Randy Wittman said. "When he plays and takes what (a) defense gives him, (that) is the prime thing that he needs to do."
Wall has diagnosed the Wizards' problems as having their root in the first quarter. "The main thing with this team is the first quarter is big for us, especially on back-to-backs," Wall said.
"Any game we want to play in this season, we need to start out with a good first quarter and a good third quarter. That's how you determine if you're going to have a chance to win it or have a chance to fight to the end."
They'll face a Lakers team riding a three-game winning streak that is playing surprising defense and getting solid production from the bench. "We have to carry our momentum right now," Xavier Henry said. "Right now guys are playing hard. We're playing like we want it and when we have everybody playing that hard at one time, we're really good."
Nick Young, brought in to help replace Kobe's scoring concurred. "Everyone's starting to know how to play and know what they are supposed to do out there," Young said. "We are all relaxed out there, having fun."
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