The Los Angeles Lakers are among the teams engaged in a frantic race for postseason positioning in the Western Conference. The Lakers are 37-32 and ninth in the West.
That puts them one-half game ahead of the Golden State Warriors and three games up on the red-hot Houston Rockets, who are in 11th place and have a seven-game winning streak.
On Friday, L.A. will host the Philadelphia 76ers, who are short-handed but must still be taken seriously. It has been very inconsistent all season when it comes to coming out with energy, intensity and urgency, especially against seemingly inferior opponents.
The Lakers will take the court on Friday evening without one of their main bench players. Wing Taurean Prince will reportedly not play due to what is being termed personal reasons.
Taurean Prince (personal reasons) won’t play tonight against Philly.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 22, 2024
The team is already short-handed. It is without guard Gabe Vincent, forward Jarred Vanderbilt and big man Christian Wood, which has significantly compromised its bench.
Whether it’s a coincidence or not, Friday also happens to be Prince’s 30th birthday. Prince is also Muslim, and he is reportedly fasting as part of the observance of Ramadan.