The Los Angeles Lakers (8-10) will try to avoid another three-game losing streak when they take on the New Orleans Hornets (5-11).  The Lakers are coming off another disappointing loss on Tuesday night, faltering to the Houston Rockets by a score of 107-105.  Los Angeles had been leading the game by 17 points and were still leading by 13 in the fourth quarter of the matchup.

The Lakers gave up a whopping 40 points in the fourth quarter alone against the Rockets.  To top it off, Dwight Howard didn't get off one shot attempt in that quarter as Houston was purposely fouling him.  Overall, the center made 8 out of 16 of his free throws.

"People are going to say whatever they want to say, but at the end of the day, go back and look at the game.  The reason we lost was not my free throws.  That didn't lose us the game.  Our defense was not there in the fourth quarter,"  Howard told ESPN.

Pau Gasol, whose only averaging a career-low 12.6 points and 8.8 boards this season, is day to day due to having tendinitis in both of his knees.  Gasol stated that the ailment hasn't shown any improvement since the pre-season.

"We just kept it under control and I was hoping that we would see some kind of improvement, and some kind of pain relief.  But it hasn't happened," said Gasol.

On a positive note for the Lakers, the team as won seven consecutive regular-season matchups over New Orleans.  Los Angeles is in the midst of a road trip that will come to an on Friday when they head to Oklahoma City.

CLICK HERE to watch the Los Angeles Lakers take on the New Orleans Hornets via free live stream.  Coverage of the game is set to begin at  5 p.m. PST on Wednesday, Dec. 5.

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