GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: DETROIT (6-2) at LA LAKERS (4-3)

[SportsTicker]

<h3>Pistons continue road trip against Lakers</h3>

<div class="pre">Detroit (6-2) at La Lakers (4-3) 10:30 pm EST</div>

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - Despite an aging core of superstars, theDetroit Pistons appear to be poised to capture a fourth straightCentral Division title.


The Pistons go for their fourth win in five games on Friday whenthey face the Los Angeles Lakers.


Detroit's nucleus of Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups,Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace are the only four players onthe same team in the Eastern Conference averaging over 15points a game.


The Pistons' combination of superstars has led them to the onlywinning record in the Central Division this season.

Detroit has won two of its first three contests on their currentfive-game road trip - including a 111-104 victory against theGolden State Warriors on Wednesday.


The win came without Billups and Antonio McDyess, who missed thegame with a twisted knee and sprained shoulder, respectively.

Both sets of x-rays came back negative, but it is uncertain ifthe duo will play on Friday.


Despite Kobe Bryant trade rumors which have circulated sincelast season, the Lakers are playing very well.


Bryant is averaging 28.6 points per game and the Lakers are agame above .500 despite playing just one team with a losingrecord.

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">DETROIT VS LA LAKERS - INACTIVES

DETROIT LA LAKERS

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
A MCDYESS LEFT SHOULDER R TURIAF LEFT ANKLE SPRAIN
C BILLUPS SORE LEFT KNEE C KARL COACH'S DECISION
R STUCKEY LEFT HAND CONTUSION J CRITTENTON COACH'S DECISION</div>

[pablo eterovic]

no billups, no mcdyess, this was the match for ronny!</p>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">DETROIT AT LA LAKERS - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


DETROIT LA LAKERS

F Tayshaun Prince F Lamar Odom
F Jason Maxiell F Brian Cook
C Rasheed Wallace C Kwame Brown
G Richard Hamilton G Kobe Bryant
G Ronald Murray G Derek Fisher

OFFICIALS: Ron Garretson
Derrick Collins
Gary Zielinski</div>

[pablo eterovic]

cook? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, please no</p>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 6
LA LAKERS 7 8:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 10
LA LAKERS 14 6:08 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 14
LA LAKERS 22 2:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 20
LA LAKERS 29 END, 1ST QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DETROIT 20 20
LA LAKERS 29 29 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

DET - TAYSHAUN PRINCE 6, RONALD MURRAY 6,
RASHEED WALLACE 4
LAL - LAMAR ODOM 7, BRIAN COOK 6, VLADIMIR
RADMANOVIC 4</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 26
LA LAKERS 35 8:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 31
LA LAKERS 41 5:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 40
LA LAKERS 46 2:54 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

[Kobethelegend]

Kobe is suckin it up!</p>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 46
LA LAKERS 48 HALFTIME</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DETROIT 20 26 46
LA LAKERS 29 19 48 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

DET - JARVIS HAYES 11, TAYSHAUN PRINCE 10,
RONALD MURRAY 8
LAL - LAMAR ODOM 16, BRIAN COOK 8, KOBE BRYANT
4</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 50
LA LAKERS 50 9:03 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

[Jumpman]

Kobe swats Duncan and Yao but ends up getting posterized by Maxiell? Whats up with that?</p>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 55
LA LAKERS 54 5:52 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 62
LA LAKERS 60 2:46 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 68
LA LAKERS 62 END, 3RD QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DETROIT 20 26 22 68
LA LAKERS 29 19 14 62 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

DET - TAYSHAUN PRINCE 14, RONALD MURRAY 14,
JARVIS HAYES 11
LAL - LAMAR ODOM 20, BRIAN COOK 10, KOBE
BRYANT 8</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 72
LA LAKERS 72 8:28 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 74
LA LAKERS 80 6:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

[SportsTicker]

<div class="pre">NBA DETROIT 83
LA LAKERS 90 2:37 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>