The Los Angeles Lakers play the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Tipoff is at 10:30 p.m. ET. Listen to the live radio broadcast or watch the live stream via the links provided below.
The Lakers (14-22) are struggling to remain in playoff contention amid a strong Western Conference. After losing nine of their previous 10 games, the team sits third-from-last in the conference and is six wins behind the Dallas Mavericks, who currently hold the conference's No. 8 seed with a 20-16 record.
Positive news for Lakers fans is Kobe Bryant (knee) and Steve Nash (nerves) may return by the end of the month. Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said he expects both guards to be available on Jan. 28 against Indiana, according to the L.A. Times.
The Clippers (25-13) are also without a star, but they've managed to find ways to win. Chris Paul is expected to miss six weeks with a separated shoulder, according to ESPN. Yet, despite not having the playmaking guard, the Clips won their last two games.
"(Paul) kind of has the ball in his hands a lot, he's the quarterback," Clippers forward Jared Dudley said, via ESPN. "When he's not there, we kind of do (more of a) spread formation where you get the ball to Blake down low, let him dominate, get out in transition, let Jamal (Crawford run), so we can kind of pick and choose our shots better."
While Paul's absence is a major loss for the Clippers, coach Doc Rivers pleased with how his team has stepped up.
"I've been very encouraged," said Rivers. "I've got to do a better job figuring out the second unit. I've got to keep a couple of starters on with both groups because with Chris out and with J.J. (Redick) out it changes a little bit, too."
Listen to the live radio broadcast HERE (LAL) and HERE (LAC), or watch the live stream HERE.
