PREVIEW: The Los Angeles Lakers (40-22) travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets (21-42) at Barclays Center , with the visiting squad looking to extend their dominance in a matchup featuring stark contrasts in recent form. Los Angeles has won eight of their last nine games after dropping a contest to Boston, while Brooklyn has lost seven straight and eight of the past nine. The Lakers rank first in efficient attacking at the rim and boast the league's highest free throw rate at 0.319, though they struggle defensively against rim attacks and rank dead last in frequency attacking the rim. The Lakers will be without LeBron James due to a groin injury, while Luka Doncic is questionable with a back issue. Brooklyn counters with elite defensive rebounding ranked first in the league and attempts three-pointers at the second-highest frequency at 47.7 percent , yet the Nets' offensive struggles remain a significant concern. Brooklyn's offense ranks lowest in the NBA, averaging just 107.1 points per game , and the team has played at the slowest pace in the league over the last 20 games. The Nets will be without De'Anthony Melton, Cam Thomas, and Trendon Watford due to various injuries. Los Angeles earned a narrow 102-101 victory in the season's only prior meeting , setting the stage for another closely contested battle between these mismatched squads.