Two teams are gearing up for battle in the nation's capital in the midst of a grueling back-to-back series. The Los Angeles Lakers go on the road to face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, right after a showdown with the Raptors in Toronto the night before.
On Sunday, the Lakers posted a convincing 116-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Meanwhile, the Wizards hosted the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, but could not come out on top in a 119-107 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday.
Lakers Aim for Higher Rankings
In head-to-head history, the Lakers hold a solid 124-77 advantage over the Wizards in regular-season meetings.
The Lakers have been victorious in their last three meetings, including a thrilling 134-131 overtime win at home in their first meeting this season on Dec. 29, 2023.
The Lakers came into Tuesday's clash with the Raptors with momentum on the rise, having posted six wins in their last seven games. With a current season record of 42-33, they sit in fourth place in the Pacific Division, trailing the Los Angeles Clippers by 5.5 games.
In the Western Conference playoff picture, they are in ninth place, three games behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the last guaranteed spot. Despite the challenges, they maintain a 3.5-game margin over the Houston Rockets to secure a playoff berth.
In the second straight game of a series, the Lakers have held a respectable 7-6 record this season, with a points margin of -1.9 per game.
Away from home, they have a 15-21 record, accompanied by a -5 point differential. Against Eastern Conference teams, they have a 17-10 record, with a marginal points advantage of +0.1 per game.
Offensively, the Lakers are ranked eighth in the NBAThey average 117.7 points per game, while they excel in assists, ranking seventh with 28.5 assists per game. However, they lag defensively, ranking 23rd in defense, conceding an average of 117.5 points per game.
LeBron James leads their offensive charge, averaging 25.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game, while Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell also make significant contributions.
Lakers basketball
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📻: ESPN LA 710/1330 KWKW pic.twitter.com/upYCJCyaMS- Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 3, 2024
Wizards Look for Surprise
Washington's faced Milwaukee at home in the first game of their back-to-back series, which culminates today. Entering Tuesday's showdown, the Wizards had a disappointing 14-61 season record, languishing at the bottom of the Southeast Division, a staggering 30 games behind the division-leading Orlando Magic.
Their postseason aspirations have been dashed, as they have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Struggling in the second set of back-to-backs, Washington has a poor 0-12 record this season, plagued by a substantial points deficit of -18.6 per game.
Their struggles extend to their home court, where they have a disastrous 6-31 record, along with a points margin of -9.8 per game. Against Western Conference opponents, they have faced a difficult road, posting a 4-23 record with a points deficit of -11.5 per game.
Offensively, the Wizards rank 17th in the league, averaging 113.3 points per game. However, they face challenges on the boards, ranking 29th in rebounding at 41.1 per night.
Despite this, they show proficiency in ball distribution, ranking ninth in assists with 27.9 assists per game. Defensively, they also face problems, ranking last in defense, conceding an alarming 123 points per game.
Leading the charge for the Wizards is Kyle Kuzma, averaging 22.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Backing him up are Jordan Poole, Deni Avidja and Tyus Jones, each contributing double-digit scoring figures.
However, injuries have plagued the team, with key players such as Isaiah Livers, Bilal Coulibaly and Landry Shamet out indefinitely.
Washington's shooting efficiency is mediocre, ranking 17th in field goal percentage at 47%, while they lag behind in three-point shooting, ranking 28th with a 34.9% conversion rate.
