Lakers, Sixers square off in South Philly
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(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Lakers will close out a five-game road trip Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.
The Lakers are 1-3 on the sojourn, which continued with Sunday's 107-99 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Jordan Hill led the visitors with 22 points off the bench, Jordan Clarkson added 18 points and Wesley Johnson recorded 17.
Brook Lopez scored 30 points with 11 rebounds to lead Brooklyn.
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"(Lopez) is just so big and skilled," said Lakers coach Byron Scott. "It's hard when you're undersized like we are to play against a guy that good."
Jeremy Lin did not dress for Los Angeles because of an upper respiratory infection, and the Lakers' Carlos Boozer did not play because of a coach's decision. The two could return Monday.
The Lakers are 3-12 this month and 8-29 on the road. They will begin a three- game homestand Wednesday versus New Orleans, Portland and the Clippers.
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Philadelphia dropped an 87-86 decision to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday and was led by Robert Covington's 19 points. Nerlens Noel collected eight points, 11 rebounds and two steals for the Sixers, losers in six of the last nine games.
The final margin stayed true for the last 3:57 of the game as both offenses struggled mightily down the stretch.
"It's just one of those things in sport that happens. (We) played our hearts out," said Sixers coach Brett Brown. "For me, it's how well we played defensively. I'm proud of the effort that we played with defensively."
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The 76ers, who dropped a 119-98 decision to the Clippers on Friday, are 12-25 as the host this season and will next hit the road for three games against Washington, Charlotte and New York.
Sixers veteran guard Jason Richardson (knee) is questionable Monday.
Los Angeles recently defeated Philadelphia, 101-87, on March 22 at Staples Center and was led by Lin's 29 points off the bench. The Lakers and Sixers have split the past six meetings, but LA is 12-5 in the last 17 games.