Preview: Kobe-less Lakers vs. Thunder

The Lakers (4-22) are on the road Saturday for their ninth game away from Staples Center over their last 11 contests. They’ll visit the dangerous Oklahoma City Thunder (17-9), the third-best team in the Western Conference.

The Thunder are gradually learning how to play under first-year Coach Billy Donovan, winning seven of their last 10.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have only four wins this season, although they recently defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, one of the bottom three teams in the East.

Kobe Bryant will sit out because of a sore shoulder. There’s a chance Oklahoma City reserve Anthony Morrow might miss the game for personal reasons.

Key matchup

Jordan Clarkson will likely draw the assignment to cover Thunder All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook is one of the NBA’s most ferocious scorers, averaging 25.6 points a game, but he’s also a deft playmaker with 9.4 assists a night.

While he’s not as efficient as All-Star forward Kevin Durant, Westbrook shoots a steady 46.5% from the field. If he has a weakness this season, it’s his 30.8% shooting from behind the three-point arc and 4.7 turnovers a night.

Clarkson is right behind Bryant as the Lakers’ second scorer at 14.9 points a game, shooting 46.3% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range. Clarkson also averages 3.6 assists and 1.9 turnovers.

X-factor

With Bryant out, the Lakers might start rookie Anthony Brown to match up with the Durant, a former MVP.

Durant is averaging 27.2 points a game along with 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He’s shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.1% from three-point range and 89.2% from the free-throw line.

The Lakers can also try to guard Durant with Nick Young and veteran Metta World Peace.

Outlook

In many ways, the Lakers have improved over the last month but with or without Bryant, the Thunder is going to be too much to handle on Saturday.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.