NBA Hoops

Lakers look for spark vs. Magic in opener of road trip

Without Paul George, Clippers carry on vs. Timberwolves

Facing their longest road trip of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers look to find some better footing on an increasingly slippery slope.

The Lakers have dropped four of five games, again sliding under the .500 mark, as they open a six-game Eastern Conference swing on Friday night against the Orlando Magic.

Los Angeles defeated the Magic 106-94 on Dec. 12 at home as LeBron James posted a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

In Wednesday’s 111-104 home loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Lakers squandered an early 15-point lead, while much of the focus centered on coach Frank Vogel’s decision to keep Russell Westbrook on the bench for the final 3 minutes, 52 seconds.

Westbrook scored 14 points, making four 3-pointers, on 5-for-17 shooting and the Lakers were outscored by 18 points in his 27 minutes on the floor.

Vogel said postgame that the decision against playing Westbrook down the stretch stemmed from “playing the guys I thought were going to win the game.”

“We believe…

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