One of the odd “rivalries” in the NBA is when the Charlotte Bobcats face the Los Angeles Lakers. One would expect that L.A., the two-time reigning NBA champion, would have little trouble with a Charlotte team that has been decent at best over the past few years. But in fact the Lakers have lost seven of their last nine games against the Bobcats, and haven’t won in Charlotte since 2008 entering Monday’s game. L.A. is a 5-point favorite on Bodog’s NBA odds.
The Lakers enter off an ugly effort Sunday afternoon in Orlando, losing 89-75 to the Magic as Los Angeles was held to its season-low in points. Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum each had 17 to lead the Lakers, who shot just 39.3 percent from the field overall and 12.5 percent from 3-point range. Bryant didn’t go to the free throw line once. The last time he didn’t attempt a free throw was March 24, 2010, against San Antonio.
Charlotte had been playing better under new Coach Paul Silas, but in the past three instances the Bobcats won a game they followed it with back-to-back losses. And Charlotte enters this one off an 88-86 victory in Atlanta on Saturday as Stephen Jackson hit a jumper at the buzzer. It was the second-game game-winning buzzer-beater in Bobcats history, capping a 32-point night for Jackson, who now has five 30-point games this season. Charlotte trailed by as many as 22 points, marking the largest comeback in franchise history. Still, point guard D.J. Augustin, who had thrived under Silva, is just 10-for-38 in the past four games and might be in danger of losing his starting job.