The Lakers and Nets meet for the first time this season in what should be a statement game for both teams. The Nets are looking to prove they belong with the elite teams of the West, after losing to Minnesota on Wednesday night. The Lakers want to prove that they are still championship material, despite missing key players to injury much of the year. Karl Malone is still out with a bad right knee, but Kobe Bryant has come back from injury strong, averaging 32.7 points per game since the All-Star break.
- NetsDaily Preview
- Discuss It! - BasketballBoards.net
- It's a good time to meet Lakers - Brad Parks - Star-Ledger
- Kobe stays above the fray - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
- Nets could find an old foe in Finals - Barbara Barker - New York Newsday
- Kidd: Tonight's game important - Asbury Park Press
- LA Lakers (37-20) at New Jersey (36-21) - AP
- Tonight vs. Lakers - Bergen Record
- Nets odds and ends - Steve Adamek - Bergen Record