Lakers vs. Thunder: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

In the final night of NBA action before the 2012 All-Star break, the Los Angeles Lakers are set to face the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder for the first time this season.

This will be the fist of three meetings between the two teams, and it shouldn't disappoint. The Thunder have won four games in a row, and they're also hoping to extend their home game winning streak to 12 games. 

The Lakers have won five of their last six games, but facing Oklahoma City will be a true test for Los Angeles moving forward. 

The Thunder are tied with the Miami Heat for the best record in the NBA, so expect them to come out firing so they can maintain their status on top. 

With that said, let's take a look at some specifics of this Western Conference showdown. 

When: Thursday, Feb. 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET 

Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Watch: TNT

Live Stream:  NBA League Pass

Betting Line: OKC (-6) according to VegasInsider.com

What's At Stake? 

Since the All-Star break is after this game, teams definitely want to go out with a victory. A crushing loss would be very unfortunate, as it will be all the team thinks about during the break.

Sure, that could be motivation to do better in the second half of the season, but it's better to get a win. With these being two of the top teams in the Western Conference, this game will decide who stands where in the conference.

Both teams need a win heading into the break, but since somebody has to lose, they better hope it isn't a blowout. 

Los Angeles Injury Report 

*According to CBS Sports

No injuries to report 

Oklahoma City Injury Report 

*According to CBS Sports

PF Nick Collison (quadriceps): Questionable 

PG Eric Maynor (knee): Out for season 

SF Lazar Hayward (eye): Out until March

SF Thabo Sefolosha (foot): Out until March 

What They're Saying 

Magic Johnson told the Los Angeles Times that Jim Buss is running the show in LA and that Kobe should be in on things.  

"

"It's not Mitch's situation anymore. Mitch isn't running the team. Jim Buss is running the team," Johnson said. "Mitch has to follow the direction of Jim Buss and what he wants. I wouldn't say Mitch is the problem. He's going to do his job."

Johnson said Jim Buss should meet personally with Kobe Bryant because the 14-time All-Star "just wants to be informed as a leader and future Hall of Famer and a guy who has brought five championships to the Lakers."

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The Lakers are involved in heavy trade rumors as the March 15 deadline approaches. Everyone has an opinion on what they should do, but ultimately, it's up to the head honchos upstairs to decide whether or not to make a trade. 

Pau Gasol appears to be the main trade bait, but it's uncertain what the Lakers will do with the big man. Johnson sharing his thoughts on the matter indicates that there could be more conflict in the Lakers management than people know about. 

It will definitely be interesting to see what the Lakers do the coming weeks. 

Dave McMenamin writes for ESPNLA.com, and he tweeted what Kobe Bryant had to say about the Thunder.

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Kobe on the OKC Thunder: "The Freak Show. 'Dem boys are athletic freaks, man."

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 23, 2012"

Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, James Harden and Kendrick Perkins are tearing it up for Oklahoma City, and opposing teams know the Thunder mean business.

Kobe doesn't need to shortchange his team, though, because the Lakers are very athletic as well. Sure, the Thunder are much younger, but the Lakers have great talent capable of demolishing teams in their way.

Needless to say, it's going to be quite a show on Thursday night.

Los Angeles Player to Watch

When you think of the Lakers, the first thing that pops into your head is Kobe Bryant.

He's always the player to watch for Los Angeles, and even more so in this game since he's up against another superstar.

Durant and Kobe going head-to-head will be epic to watch. Kobe leads the league in scoring, averaging 28.5 points per game, but Durant is right behind him, with 27.7. It will be great to see these two go at it. 

Oklahoma City Player to Watch 

Durant is a monster for this team, and he knows how important this game is. Beating the mighty Lakers is vital for having success in the NBA. 

While the Thunder are playing better than most in the league right now, Durant knows that taking down the Lakers will give him and his team great confidence moving forward. 

He's up against a big-time star, so look for Durant to dominate in front of the home crowd. 

Key Matchup 

The Thunder will key in on stopping Kobe, which won't be easy. The Lakers must scheme to shut down Westbrook, or else they're going to have a rough night.

Durant is going to thrive, but if Westbrook is right there with him, then the chances of Los Angeles winning are slim.

The Lakers have to find a way to frustrate Westbrook and force him to turn the ball over and have a bad game all around. In doing this, it puts more pressure on Durant and increases the possibility of winning.

Prediction 

I expect a hard-fought, intense battle for all four quarters, but in the end, the Thunder get the job done at home. They're on a roll right now, and they won't be stopped.

Thunder 100, Lakers 94