Preview: Lakers Take On Warriors

The Lakers look to continue their home-dominance over the Warriors tonight as they battle Golden State for the 3rd time this season - each team having won a game apiece on their home floor.

Los Angeles comes in off a 130-105 victory over the Sonics. The Lakers had 8 players who scored in double digit figures Friday night.

“We are sharing the ball, making sure everybody touches it and putting guys in positions where they can be successful,” forward Ronny Turiaf said. “It’s so much easier for us to score on other teams because they can’t just focus on Kobe or Lamar.”

Turiaf, starting in place of injured Center Pau Gasol, had 14 points and 6 assists against Seattle.

Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic came off the bench and scored a combined 27 points on 10-17 shooting from the field.

“My message to our young guards, Sasha and Jordan, is that we’re investing these minutes in them the rest of the season so that they can give us this great boost of energy and surge that we get from them off the bench,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “If pressure is going to take them out, we’re going to have a problem in the playoffs. So we need to see them perform, regardless of what the competition is.”

Despite losing Pau Gasol, the Lakers have been able to hold onto the number 1 seed in the Western Conference.

“I think we’re the front-runners,” said coach Phil Jackson. “I mean, if we had a healthy roster, I’d be much more comfortable saying that. But at this point, given our schedule, I think we have a real good opportunity.”

The Warriors are 5.5 games behind the Lakers in the Western Conference playoff race.

Warriors Starting 5:

Injury Report:
Chris Webber: Sore Left Knee - DTD
Austin Croshere: Sore Right Groin - DTD

Lakers Starting 5:

Injury Report:
Trevor Ariza: Broken Foot - Out
Andrew Bynum: Left Patella Subluxation - Out
Chris Mihm: Right Ankle Bursitis - Out
Pau Gasol: Sprained Left Ankle - Out Indefinitely
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Time: 6:30pm | TV: FSN HD | Radio: KLAC AM 570, ESPN 1330

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