Kobe, Lakers welcome Philly to town

Dec 31, 2006, 16:05 GMT

(Sports Network) - The struggling Philadelphia 76ers resume their seven-game road trip this evening when they visit Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Philadelphia opened the trip with two straight losses, but rebounded with Friday's 98-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at The Rose Garden. Andre Iguodala scored a career-best 32 points and also had five rebounds, five assists and five steals to lead the 76ers.

Andre Miller chipped in 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, while Kyle Korver netted 19 off the bench for the 76ers, who are 4-14 away from the Wachovia Center this season. Samuel Dalembert finished with 10 points and nine boards in the win.

The Sixers, who are last in the Atlantic, will take on former employee Allen Iverson and the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday before visiting Utah and Minnesota. Iverson was traded to the Nuggets last week for Miller, forward Joe Smith and a pair of first-round draft picks. Philly is 3-3 since dealing A.I. out west and surprisingly four games off the lead in the division.

76ers forward Chris Webber missed Friday's game with an injured ankle/foot and is questionable for Sunday night's contest.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have dropped two of their last three games, including Friday's 133-124 triple-overtime loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.

Bryant scored a season-high 58 points for the Lakers, who split their six-game road trip. Luke Walton posted 14 points and 11 boards, while Smush Parker added 12 points.

Kwame Brown contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds in a losing effort for LA, which is two games behind Phoenix for the top spot in the Pacific Division.

Los Angeles is 13-4 as the host this season and split a pair of meetings with Philadelphia in 2006-05. The Lakers, though, have lost four of the last six meetings with the 76ers.

Philly has lost six of seven and 18 of its last 21 at the Lakers.

© 2006 The Sports Network