Boston resumes old rivalry with LA

Los Angeles owns a 4-7 record in February and continued the downslide Friday night against the rival Clippers.

Kobe Bryant had 39 points and eight assists, while Chris Mihm added 11 points and seven boards in the loss for the Lakers, who had a brief two-game winning streak halted.

Los Angeles, which is 3-1 in its last four home games, owns a 15-10 record at the Staples Center this season. LA is currently seeded sixth in the Western Conference playoff hunt.

Boston, meanwhile, has won four of its last six game following a six-game losing streak.

On Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Pierce poured in 37 points in a 102-96 triumph at the Rose Garden.

Wally Szczerbiak scored 25 points and rookie Ryan Gomes added 13 points and 17 rebounds for Boston, which is a dismal 6-21 on the road this season. Friday’s road win was just the second in 10 tilts away from Beantown this season.

In the last meeting between Boston and LA on March 2, 2005, the Celtics ended a four-game losing streak against the Lakers with a 104-101 win in Beantown.

Sunday’s matchup will feature two of the top scorers in the NBA. Bryant leads the league in scoring with 35.0 points per game, while Pierce is sixth with 26.6 clip per outing.

Pierce has scored at least 30 points in seven of his last eight games, while averaging 32.8 in the last 10.

Boston has dropped its last three games at the Staples Center and eight of 12 overall in the series with the Lakers.