Lakers better be careful

New Orleans/Oklahoma City is one game out of the playoff hunt, while the Utah Jazz trail the Kings and Lakers by two games.

On Monday, the Lakers and Boston Celtics meet for the final time in the 2005-06 campaign, as the teams square off at TD Banknorth Garden.

On February 26th, Paul Pierce scored 39 points and made the winning free throw with 3.2 seconds left to catapult Boston to a 112-111 victory over the Lakers at the Staples Center. The Celtics have won two straight and five of the last nine meetings in this series. The Lakers have lost three of their last four at the Celtics.

Los Angeles attempts to halt a two-game losing streak as it wraps up a three- game road trip against the Celtics. On Sunday, Ronald Murray made 1-of-2 free throws with 3.4 seconds left and scored 13 of his 21 points during the deciding fourth quarter, as the Cleveland Cavaliers knocked off the Lakers, 96-95, at Quicken Loans Arena.

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 38 points, grabbed six boards and dished out five assists in the loss to Cleveland for the Lakers, while Lamar Odom contributed 25 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in defeat.

The Lakers, who have lost four of their last five games overall, are just 16-21 on the road this season.

Bryant, who leads the league in scoring (34.7 ppg), has scored over 20 points in 48 straight contests. He is averaging 33.3 points and 5.0 assists in his last 10 outings.

After Monday’s game, the Lakers return home to host Sacramento, Milwaukee, New Orleans/Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The Lakers are 18-13 as the host this season.

The Lakers are scheduled to play 10 of their final 14 games this season at home.