Clips Can't Reach 20-Win Plateau

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 87-72, dropping their record to 19-61. The Clips shot just 38% from the field, and 2-for-15 from three-point range. Portland took 27 free-throws, compared to 11 for LA. Eric Gordon led the Clippers with 18 points, and Zach Randolph returned from his suspension to score 13. Baron Davis had 12, and no other Clippers scored in double-figures. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 21 points, and Brandon Roy added 15.

Kings Finish Season on Right Foot

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-3, their final game of the NHL season. The Kings scored in each period, including twice in the first. Wayne Simmonds scored a goal and had an assist for the Kings, and Davis Drewiske had two assists. Alexander Frolov, Michal Handzus, and Peter Harrold each scored for LA, and Jonathan Quick made 27 saves. The Sharks scored each goal on a power-play, with Devin Setoguchi, Joe Pavelski, and Patrick Marleau each scoring once.

Dodgers Enjoy Offensive Outburst

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-2, snapping a mini 2-game losing streak. Eric Stults shined in his substitution for the injured Hiroki Kuroda, pitching five-and-a-third innings while allowing just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five. Orlando Hudson hit a solo homer and a two-run double against his former team, and Russell Martin, Casey Blake, Andre Ethier, and James Loney each had a double. Martin and Ethier finished with two RBI's each, and Loney and Hudson both scored twice. Mark Reynolds had a triple and scored a run, and Chris Young doubled and scored.

Clips Are Kings for a Day

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 109-78, snapping a six-game losing streak. LA could not be stopped after finishing the first quarter leading 35-13. The Clippers shot 56% from the field while Sacramento shot .326. The Clips also out-assisted the Kings 26-14 and blocked 9 of their shots. Brain Skinner led LA with 21 points to go with 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Eric Gordon had 20 points, and Chris Kaman had a double-double off the bench with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Baron Davis added 16 points. Beno Udrih led the Kings with 18 points.

McDonald's Debut is D-Back's Parade

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-4, their first losing streak of the season. James McDonald made his first major league start for LA, but was roughed up for five runs in the third inning. Brad Ausmus started for Russell Martin and took advantage of the opportunity, getting two hits and an RBI. Manny Ramirez also had two hits and an RBI, and Matt Kemp scored two runs. Casey Blake had a two-run homer. Chris Young came up a triple short of the cycle for the Snakes, and scored three times. Felipe Lopez had two hits, runs and RBI's, and Conor Jackson knocked in three.

Lakers Still Find Portland a Thorny Place

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Portland Trailblazers 106-98, their 8th straight loss to Portland in the Rose Garden. Despite going into halftime leading by 4, the Lakers lost the second half by 12. Portland went to the charity stripe 37 times as LA ended the game with 31 fouls. The Blazers turned the ball over just 6 times. Kobe Bryant had 32 points, and Pau Gasol added just 12. Andrew Bynum had another solid game after his return, scoring 13 points and collected 6 rebounds. Lamar Odom had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Shannon Brown was a perfect 4-for-4, finishing with 10 points. Brandon Roy led the Blazers with 24 points and 8 assists, and LeMarcus Aldridge had 16 points and 8 rebounds. Rudy Fernandez scored 15 points.

Kuroda Goes on DL

Hiroki Kuroda will not make his scheduled start against Arizona on Saturday. Instead, he will be put on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained left oblique muscle. Eric Stults will make the start instead.

Holiday, Others Declare For Draft

UCLA's freshman guard Jrue Holiday (above) declared for the NBA draft yesterday. However, he will not hire an agent, choosing to retain his eligibility to return to the NCAA. Holiday enters the draft along with USC's DeMar DeRozan, Daniel Hackett, and Taj Gibson. All three players are highly expected to declare for the draft soon, with Hackett hiring an agent, preventing him from returning to the Trojans. The LA Times reports that Gibson is considering entering the draft, but is not thinking of hiring an agent.

Canucks Send Kings Rolling

The Los Angeles Kings fell to the Vancouver Canucks 1-0. Robert Luongo made 20 saves to get his 8th shutout of the season for Vancouver. Ryan Kesler scored the only goal of the game. Jonathan Quick made 27 saves on 28 shots.

Bynum's Return Sparks Offense

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets, their 63rd win of the season. Andrew Bynum made his long awaited return from a knee injury, starting and playing 21:05 minutes. The Lakers took 46 free-throw attempts, forcing 32 fouls, as opposed to Denver's 29 trips to the line. LA had 18 offensive rebounds, helping propel the Lakers from a dismal .425 shooting percentage. The Laker bench had another solid outing, scoring 32 points and grabbing 7 steals. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 33 points, and Pau Gasol had 27 points, and a career-high 19 rebounds, 11 of which came off the offensive glass. Bynum had 16 points and 7 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 23 points, and J.R. Smith scored 19 off the bench. Chauncey Billups added 17 points and 8 assists.

Bullpen Collapses in Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the San Diego Padres 4-3, splitting the series 2-2. The Dodgers entered the bottom of the eighth with a 3-1 lead, but Will Ohman and Corey Wade were shelled. Orlando Hudson had two hits, including a ninth inning triple that ultimately did nothing. Matt Kemp had two hits and knocked in two, and Andre Ethier reached base in all five of his plate appearances, as well as scoring and knocking in a run. Clayton Kershaw pitched five shaky innings but only gave up one run, and was in line for the win. Adrian Gonzalez had a home run, and David Eckstein doubled and scored a run for the Padres.

Adenhart Dies in Car Accident

Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart died in a car accident early this morning. Adenhart was just 22 years old, and had made his first start of the season yesterday, throwing six shutout innings against the Oakland Athletics. Adenhart was killed after a drunk driver ran a red-light early morning in Fullerton, crashing into his car. Two other passengers in the car were killed instantly, with the fourth man still in critical condition. My condolences go out to Adenhart's family, the three other victims' families, and the entire Angel organization.

Manny Hits Stride as Dodgers Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 5-2, their second win of the season. Manny Ramirez had three RBI's, including a tie-breaking two-run double in the seventh inning. James Loney had two hits and knocked in a run, Casey Blake hit his first home run of the season, and Rafael Furcal had a single, double, and scored two runs. Chad Billingsley had a solid outing despite walking three batters in the fifth inning, resulting in the Padres' only two runs. Billingsley pitched six innings, giving up two hits, four walks, and striking out four to get the win. Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect ninth to get his second save of the season. San Diego had only three hits, and David Eckstein had an RBI.

Bynum Ready for Denver Game

ESPN reports that injured center Andrew Bynum is ready to return to the Lakers' lineup tomorrow in a game against the Denver Nuggets. Bynum injured his right knee on January 30 against the Memphis Grizzlies, and has missed 32 games due to the injury. He has slowly been rehabing his knee, and just last week participated on a 5-on-5 scrimmage. It is still uncertain whether Bynum will start or come off the bench.

Clippers Lose To Fourth-Quarter Doldrums

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 87-77, their 60th loss of the season. The Clips shot just .358 from the field, taking 31 3-point tries while only hitting 9 of them. LA had only 6 turnovers, and Minnesota out-rebounded the Clippers 62-34. Entering the fourth quarter trailing only by 11 points, the Clippers scored just 15 points while the Wolves had 14. Eric Gordon led the Clips with 28 points, and Brian Skinner had 16 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Ryan Gomes led the way for the T-Wolves with 24 points and 13 rebounds, and former Bruin Kevin Love added 13 points and 15 rebounds. LA was without Mardy Collins, Marcus Camby, Ricky Davis, and Al Thornton due to health issues, and Zach Randolph due to his suspension.

Kings Use Early Start to Clinch Win

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1. Alexander Frolov and Wayne Simmonds both scored in the first period for LA, and Jonathan Quick made 38 saves to help get the Kings the win. Fernando Pisani scored the Oilers' only goal. The loss eliminates Edmonton from playoff contention.

Dodgers' Bats Go Silent in Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the San Diego Padres 4-2, their first loss of the season. Randy Wolf struggled in his first start, surrendering four runs in less than six innings on six hits and three walks. Manny Ramirez doubled and scored a run, and Russell Martin doubled, scored, and knocked in a run. Matt Kemp had two hits. Ronald Belisario made his first appearance with the Dodgers, pitching a perfect inning of relief. Kevin Kouzmanoff had a triple and scored two runs for the Padres, and Chase Headley had a two-run double.

Bench Reawakens To Give Lakers Win

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings 122-104, their 62nd win of the season. The Laker bench came alive against Sacramento, scoring 42 points in the game. LA shot .511 from the field and went to the free-throw line 29 times. Pau Gasol had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant scored 22 points. Lamar Odom added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Luke Walton came off the bench to get 11 points and 9 assists. Sasha Vujacic added 12 points. Spencer Hawes led the Kings with 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Francisco Garcia scored 19 points as all five of Sacramento's starters scored in double-figures.

Randolph is Arrested

Clipper center Zach Randolph was arrested yesterday on suspicion of DUI. The Clippers suspended him for their next two games. Randolph was pulled over in the Culver City area early Monday morning after the team's loss to the Lakers. Officers smelled alcohol on Randolph and arrested him after he failed a field sobriety test. Randolph has been arrested twice before, once for a DWI involving marijuana and another for street racing.

Roster Moves: Belisario Joins Team

The Los Angeles Dodgers made last minute changes to their 25-man roster before their win against San Diego, including the promotion of Ronald Belisario to the major-league club. Belisario was an afterthought when he joined the club in Spring Training, even missing time due to visa troubles in his native Venezuela. The Dodgers also purchased the contracts of minor-leaguers Will Ohman and Doug Mientkiewicz, bringing them up to the big-leagues. To make room for the promotions, LA put Claudio Vargas on the 60-day disabled list and Delwyn Young on the 15-day DL. Greg Miller was released in order to make room on the 40-man roster.

Kings Go Up in Flames

The Los Angeles Kings fell to the Calgary Flames 4-1, a loss that puts Calgary in first place in the Northwest. Wayne Simmonds scored LA's only goal as Erik Ersberg made 34 saves on 38 shots. Jarome Iginla had a goal and assist for the Flames, and Daymond Langkow, Jim Vandermeer, and David Moss each scored a goal. Mikka Kiprusoff saved 23 shots for Calgary.

Kemp & Kuroda Shine in Dodgers' Opener

The Los Angeles Dodgers began the 2009 season today by defeating the San Diego Padres 4-1, their first win of the season. Hiroki Kuroda pitched 5-and-two-thirds innings, allowing just one run, four hits, and one walk. Matt Kemp had the first Dodger home run of the season, and made a diving catch that ended up preventing a big inning for the Padres. James Loney had three hits and two RBI's, and Rafael Furcal had two hits, a stolen base, and scored a run. Andre Ethier had two hits and an RBI. San Diego ace Jake Peavy was roughed up for his first loss against the Dodgers after 11 straight wins, giving up all four runs on seven hits while striking out eight. Brian Giles knocked in the only Padre run.

Lakers Edge Out Clips

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated their cross-arena rival Los Angeles Clippers 89-85, their 61st victory of the season, and the 59th loss for the Clippers. The Lakers scored just 33 points in the second-half, allowing the Clips to re-enter the game late in the fourth quarter, but the Clippers scored just 29 points in the first and third quarters combined. The Clippers out-rebounded the Lakers 46-38, and out-assisted them 21-15. However, the Clips committed 15 turnovers as opposed to the Lakers' 10. Eric Gordon led all scorers with 24 points for the Clippers, and Zach Randolph had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant added 18 points as well.

Roster Moves: DeWitt Stays, Lindblom Goes

The Dodgers made more roster moves in preparation for the season opener. They sent Josh Lindblom, Brian Mazone, Juan Castro, Erick Threets and Luis Maza to the minors, specifically sending Lindblom to Double-A to be a starter. Blake DeWitt made the major-league roster, as well as Will Ohman, Ronald Belisario, and Ramon Troncoso. Doug Mientkiewicz is expected to make the roster tomorrow, but first the 40-man roster needs to be worked out so that he, Belisario, and Ohman can join the roster. Jason Schmidt was put on the 15-day disabled list, and Tanyon Sturtze was sent to the minors.

Dodgers End Spring with Whimper

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the San Francisco Giants 3-1, their last spring exhibition of the year. James McDonald pitched four innings, yielding three runs on six hits while striking out five. Josh Lindblom took full advantage of his last chance to make the club, pitching four scoreless innings while allowing only three baserunners. James Loney had two hits and an RBI, and Juan Pierre scored the Dodgers' only run. Juan Castro had a double.

Bynum Advancing Towards Return

Andrew Bynum continues to recover his right knee, fully participating in a 5-on-5 scrimmage. Barring any setbacks, Bynum could return to the Laker lineup in a matter of days. However, he will most likely be put on the bench and have his minutes limited. The coaching staff has said Bynum will be monitored day-to-day. Bynum injured his right knee more than two months ago in a game against Memphis, missing 30 games as a result.

Roster Moves: McDonald Makes Rotation

The Los Angeles Dodgers made more roster moves after their exhibition loss, the most notable was the naming of James McDonald as the fifth starter. McDonald has a 5.03 ERA this spring, and will show his stuff in today's game against the Giants. Chin-lung Hu failed to make the roster, and will start the season in Triple-A. Joining Hu are Jeff Weaver, Jason Repko, Xavier Paul, Eric Stults, and A.J. Ellis. Will Ohman made the roster, defying expectations that he would begin the season in the minors. Weaver will pitch in Triple-A to prepare for his role as a long-reliever and spot-starter.