Lakers vs. Nets Game Preview: Basketball is back in session after another big break

The Los Angeles Lakers took a much-needed three day break after dropping five straight games out of the All-Star break, and the franchise is once again flirting with ugly history. The losing streak has extended up to eight games, with the last time they tasted victory back on Feb. 4. The Brooklyn Nets may be one of the few teams the purple and gold have an actual shot against, though, and could stop this losing skid from creeping back into double-digits.

It doesn't hurt that Brooklyn will be on the second half of a back-to-back, or that they're in the middle of a nine-game road trip. The Lakers need all the help they can get to scrape a win together, and it just so happens their first win of the season came against these same Nets back in November.

Byron Scott has implemented a new "set" for the offense, which has been discussed in a roundabout way with media. Ultimately adding a new piece to the puzzle isn't going to turn the Lakers into some kind of juggernaut, especially when the larger issue since coming back from break has been their putrid defense. They're giving up 118.6 points per game over the last five losses.

Kobe Bryant is expected to play in the first half of the Lakers' back-to-back, but just how much he plays is something to keep an eye on. They travel to Denver for what we all know is a schedule loss on Wednesday, and Kobe is trying to play in as many of the final 22 games of his career as possible.

Enjoy the game!

Time: 7:30 p.m. PT

TV: TWCSN, YES