Two of the most prolific scorers in the NBA, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, go head-to-head when the Los Angeles Lakers (18-25) host the NBA's winningest team, the Oklahoma City Thunder (34-10) at 3:30 EST Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
Little is going right these days for the Lakers, who have lost 10 of their last 13 games in a season riddled with injuries to key players and rife with reports of infighting and a tenuous coaching situation that required team owners to state recently that they gave Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni a vote of confidence.
Bryant, however, is all systems go as he continues his torrid offensive pace this season. However, he has recently been overthrown from his long reign atop the NBA's scorers list this season as OKC's Durant now sits atop that list with 29.5 points per game.
It's almost fitting that the top player on the NBA's top team would be leading the scoring list, as Oklahoma City is on a roll, having won eight of their last 10 games and with a formidable 15-7 road record heading into Sunday.
This will be the third meeting, out of four, between these two teams this season, and the Thunder have won both contests.
It'll be a star-studded affair as these two teams with two NBA All-Stars apiece and two of the league's top 10 scoring offenses battle in L.A.
Latinos Post breaks down the key matchups for this game:
Power forward: Serge Ibaka, Thunder vs. Earl Clark, Lakers
Ibaka is a defensive force and a productive scorer, netting 14.0 points per game to go with 2.0 blocked shots and8.4 rebounds in the last five games. Expect the NBA's No.2 shot-blocker will be looking less to tangle with Clark-though his 10.0 points and 8.8 rebounds in the last five games are nothing to sneeze at-and more on helping to limit Dwight Howard on offense.
Advantage: Thunder
Small forward: Kevin Durant, Thunder vs. Metta World Peace, Lakers
Don't be surprised to see Kobe try and match up with Durant every now and then, as D'Antoni has him focusing on shutting down the opposing team's best players these days.
Durant has been almost otherworldly in the last five games, racking up 52 points against Dallas on Jan. 18 and averaging 35.6 points in the last five games while shooting a lethal 50 percent from the three-point line. A more complete offensive player you'd be hard-pressed to find.
World Peace looked strong on Friday with his 17 points against Utah, and can contribute on offense, but he will really need to buckle down and try to at least slow down Durant on offense-though at the rate Durant's playing, that's easier said than done.
Advantage: Thunder
Center: Kendrick Perkins, Thunder vs. Dwight Howard, Lakers
The 6'10" Perkins is as aggressive and as persistent a defender as you can have in the paint, even though he gives up two inches in height to most seven-footers at the center position. And he might have a good chance, with a little help from Ibaka, to slow down Howard, who is still struggling with a shoulder injury that was re-aggravated earlier this week against the Grizzlies.
Howard scored 17 points with 13 rebounds against Utah in a blowout 102-84 Lakers win, but he will be tested physically by Perkins and the Thunder. Still, barrign a really off-night, Howard will be a big factor on offense for Los Angeles.
Advantage: Lakers
Shooting guard: Thabo Sefolosha, Thunder vs. Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Sefolosha has a rep by now as a defensive stopper that can hound an opposing shooting guard doggedly.
Your challenge for the evening, Mr. Sefolosha: Stop Kobe Bryant.
Bryant may have struggled against Utah on Friday with only 14 points, but when it's game time, there's little reason anymore to doubt whether one of the NBA's all-time great players will bring his best to the show. Bryant knows how critical this game is, and expect him to show every bit of that 28.9 point season average that has earned him the reputation of being among the most feared scorers in the game.
Advantage: Lakers
Point guard: Russell Westbrook, Lakers vs. Steve Nash, Lakers
Two better point guards you'll be hard pressed to find between the NBA-All Star Westbrook and the all-time assists leader in Nash.
Westbrook has been on a tear in the last five games, averaging 24.2 points and 7.8 assists as the playmaker for the NBA's top-ranked offense (first in team scoring with 105.9 points per game). Nash, meanwhile, has been steadily producing on offense with 13.0 points over the last five games, though his assists numbers are down, only 6.4 of them over that span compared to his season average of 8.2 dishes for 2012-13.
Defense isn't a trademark for Nash, so look for Bryant to lend a hand to Nash in shutting down the younger and more explosive Westbrook.
Advantage: Thunder
Bench
If New York's J.R. Smith wasn't doing such an amazing job off the bench, OKC's Kevin Martin would be a shoe-in for Sixth Man of the Year at this point, averaging 15.2 points this season off the bench as he has helped ease the pain of James Harden's departure to Houston. Nick Collison provides a healthy body who can rebound and Reggie Jackson provides a stable presence at the point guard spot for the Thunder.
Pau Gasol might not be happy these days coming off the bench for Los Angeles, but he does add a lot of depth and reliable scoring for the Lakers. Chris Duhon and Jodie Meeks will also have to get quality minutes and play their roles well in order for Bryant to have something in the tank for the final quarter.
Advantage: Thunder
Game Time, TV Schedule
Game time stars at 3:30 p.m. EST Sunday, on ABC.
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