:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47786261/usa-today-8247485.0.jpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers are on a seven-game losing streak and had a rainy bus ride to Washington D.C. to reflect on being the first team to lose to the Philadelphia 76ers this season. They'll have no easier task than beating a 0-18 team the rest of the way, and even with the Washington Wizards struggling to start their season, could be looking at an eight-game losing streak by the end of the night.
The Wizards are sitting outside of the Eastern Conference playoff seedings at the close of the first full month of the NBA, struggling to adjust to a system built around pace and space. It's early, so there's plenty of time for them to continue smoothing things out. John Wall's taken responsibility for the 7-8 record to start the season, and with a game against the Lakers, should have an opportunity to dial in his game a bit.
Wall and Bradley Beal are putting up a combined 31.6 field-goal attempts per game, so you already know the Lakers perimeter defense is in for a long night. The Lakers allow the second-most points (107.5) while scoring the second-least (96.4) per 100 possessions, with Kobe Bryant's shot volume and quality appearing to be a season-long trend. It's unclear if he'll play in D.C. after putting in just under 32 minutes in Philadelphia, as Byron Scott recently called handling Bryant's minutes on back-to-backs a balancing act. Kobe's sat out of both games in a set, sat out the second half of a set in Phoenix, and most recently played against both Portland and Indiana in a back-to-back to close November.
When Nick Young is the one calling the Lakers a circus act following a new low on the season, things are bad. The Wizards should be a competitive team in the East but are adjusting to roster and strategy changes. Growing pains are expected in the early months when actual change is being implemented.
Enjoy the game, which if nothing else could always turn into Jordan Clarkson getting buckets and shouting cash considerations.
Time: 4 p.m. PT
TV: TWCSN, CSMA