The Los Angeles Lakers have to win this game if they plan on staying alive in the 2013 NBA Playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs are up 3-0 and the Lakers are facing elimination. Check out the radio stream from live coverage of this NBA Playoff matchup as the first team could advance to the second round of the playoffs.
The Spurs are playing dominant basketball. It's what the No.2 seed is supposed to do when the No. 7's star is injured along with secondary players and stars facing injuries as well. For the Lakers, in Game 4, they will be without Steve Nash, Metta World Peace, Jodie Meeks and of course, Kobe Bryant.
Basically, that leaves a ton of bench players starting who would otherwise come in to play for garbage minutes. This means, the Lakers will depend heavily on Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Antawn Jamison. When looking at the Spurs lineup, it looks like the Lakers simply don't have a chance to make this a fight.
When you look at the Spurs, they're simply too much; Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are veterans and they are apparently healthier than many thought entering the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Duncan has averaged 19 points per game, Parker is well over 20 per game and off the bench, Ginobili has dropped a little over 12 per game.
Howard has held it down for the Lakers when it comes to scoring, but his effort has not been enough for L.A. He needs at least 30-40 points tonight if he wants to remain alive in the playoffs before having to face questions of his offseason plans to either sign or move out of L.A.
Game time is at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET.