Los Angeles Lakers (25-11) at Seattle (9-27)

When: 7 p.m., KeyArena, Seattle. TV: FSN. Radio: 770-AM.

Series: The Lakers won the first game of the season in Los Angeles, 106-99, on Nov. 27. The Lakers hold a 125-83 overall advantage in the series.

Scouting the Lakers: The Sonics face another hot team in the Lakers. Los Angeles has won 10 of its past 11 games and is on a six-game winning streak. However, the Lakers are playing in the second of back-to-back games after defeating Memphis, 100-99, at the Staples Center on Sunday night.

Kobe Bryant leads the team in scoring (27 ppg.) and assists (5.1 apg). Third-year center Andrew Bynum has had a breakout season, averaging 13.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a contest. But Bynum will miss at least the next eight weeks after injuring his kneecap in the team's win last night over Memphis.

MRI exam results showed that Bynum suffered a partial dislocation of his left patella and a bone bruise of his knee.

In January Bynum had been averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds a game. Kwame Brown will start in Bynum’s place.

“He’s a dominating inside presence, so they’re going to miss him a lot,” Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “I think moreso in the long-term than in the short term.”

Seattle rookie Kevin Durant will start out defensively against Kobe Bryant, but expect to see Damien Wilkins, Delonte West and Jeff Green guarding Bryant as well, along with some zone or box-and-1.

Durant actually guarded Bryant late in the game at Los Angeles in November.

“Kobe’s a tough player to match-up with,” Durant said. “He’s so quick and he’s so strong. He can get to the basket whenever he wants. And he’s a scorer, probably the best scorer in the league. So we have to be more of a help defensive team tonight, but also watch out for guys on the perimeter like Derek Fischer and Luke Walton, guys that can really hurt us.”

Scouting the Sonics: Nick Collison (right quad contusion) has been cleared to play tonight and will start at power forward, which means Chris Wilcox will come off the bench in his first game back from the injure list. Wilcox had missed the last four games with a dislocated right pinkie.
Kurt Thomas will start at center, Jeff Green at small forward, Kevin Durant at shooting guard and Earl Watson and point guard.

Luke Ridnour also is ready to go and should get some time tonight. Carlesimo said as long as Ridnour stays healthy he expects Ridnour to get a consistent run with Durant, Green Wilcox and Thomas so Carlesimo can evaluate how he plays with Seattle’s core players.

The NBA will release its most popular individual and team jerseys in its NBA team store in New York and online on Thursday, and Seattle’s Kevin Durant is No. 11 on the individual list.

Boston’s Kevin Garnett jersey is the most popular, and the Boston Celtics are the most popular team.

“I guess No. 35 is a popular number,” Durant chuckled. “That just shows that we have a lot of fans that support the Sonics. That’s always a great thing to have.”

Listen to the full conversation with Durant here. And listen to Carlesimo talk about the game here.

Next: 4 p.m. Wednesday at New Orleans, New Orleans Arena.