Los Angeles Lakers Team Report - April 11

(Basketball News) - The disappointing Los Angeles Lakers host the playoff- bound Phoenix Suns on Monday at the Staples Center.

The Suns own a slim 1/2 game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Lakers will not participate in the postseason for the first time since 1994.

It is the fourth and final meeting of the season between the clubs. The Suns won all three of the previous contests. If Phoenix wins tonight it would mark the first time since the 1999-00 that they have swept the regular-season series from the Lakers.

The Lakers come into Monday’s game off another embarrassing loss. On Sunday, Kenny Thomas poured in a career-high 32 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Sacramento Kings past the Lakers, 124-105, at ARCO Arena. All-Star Kobe Bryant paced Los Angeles with 18 points and six assists.

Caron Butler netted 17 points and Chucky Atkins chipped in 15 points and nine assists for the Lakers, who have dropped 14 of their last 16 games overall.

LA, which is 1-5 in Monday games this season, is 22-16 as the host.

Bryant is averaging 25.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists in his last 10 games. He has registered one double-double and one triple-double in that span.

The Lakers will host the Sacramento Kings on Friday and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. LA will then closeout the season on the road with games against Golden State and Portland.