The (9-29) Cleveland Cavaliers continue their five-game road trip on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, as they face off against the (15-21) Los Angeles Lakers. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. EST at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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Cleveland hopes to rebound from a disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday while Los Angeles is fighting to end a six-game losing streak.
If Cavaliers fans are feeling bad about the absence of center Anderson Varejao, the Lakers have it worse with Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Steve Blake, and Jordan Hill all ruled out for Sunday’s game.
The bright spot for Los Angeles will be player matchup that will take place in this contest. Kobe Bryant, who continues to be an offensive force averaging over 30.0 points per game, draws the defense of Alonzo Gee. Bryant torched the Cavaliers for 42 points when the two teams met earlier in the season.
The contest may not be a lost cause for Cleveland who has been struggling to close out ballgames all season. The Lakers have a knack for turning over the ball. As long as Cleveland can convert those turnovers into points, the Cavaliers should not be ruled out, no matter how dominant Bryant is.
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