Lakers vs. Magic Game Preview: The long road trip comes to an end

The Los Angeles Lakers are suffering collapse after collapse but must put another disappointing loss behind them as they move on to Orlando to face the Magic. The long road trip has not been kind to the Lakers, and they’ll once again be without the power forward duo of Larry Nance, Jr. and Julius Randle.

The Magic haven’t been great this season but still have a better record than the Lakers at 13-18. Evan Fournier leads the team in scoring at 17.8 points per game, but five Magicians are putting in double-digits on the season.

Orlando is one of the worst teams on offense, scoring just 99.7 points per 100 possessions, but the Lakers’ defense has been equally atrocious. One will prevail, and considering the way the purple and gold have been playing, the Magic are on track to put up 140 on LA.

Serge Ibaka and Nikola Vucevic are the two to watch on Orlando as the Lakers have serious trouble dealing with frontcourt players. That will only be exasperated without Randle and Nance, Jr. to bring their physicality to the table, though Thomas Robinson is doing his best to fill in the gap. He pulled down a career-high in rebounds in the Lakers’ loss to Miami.

No matter what happens, at least the road trip will be over. Enjoy the game, and have a happy holiday weekend until we’re back in action Sunday against the Clippers.

Time: 4 p.m. PT

TV: Spectrum SportsNet