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Lakers’ next seven games are against teams with losing records

Lakers star LeBron James celebrates after dunking on the Golden State Warriors during a 120-94 win Wednesday at Staples Center.
(Harry How / Getty Images)
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Over the course of the next two weeks, the Lakers have a schedule that doesn’t strike any fear and presents them with the opportunity to build a strong record.

They will face seven teams — the Lakers play the Oklahoma City Thunder twice during this span — that have a combined 25-47 record.

They will face four of those teams at Staples Center, where the Lakers have built a 5-1 record. Then again, the Lakers are 4-1 on the road and the teams they face there are a combined 17-28.

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After dispatching the now 2-10 Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night at Staples Center, the Lakers appear to be in good position to improve their record.

“I pay attention to the schedule, just seeing who’s our next opponent,” LeBron James said after scoring 23 points, handing out 12 assists and grabbing six rebounds during the Lakers’ 120-94 victory over the injury-depleted Warriors. “And then I just kind of lock in that opponent and saying we have a great opportunity. No matter who you play, you have the opportunity to be great. And I think the last few nights we accomplished that.”

LeBron James scores 23 points as the Lakers dominate in a 120-94 win over a Warriors team that no longer resembles the squad from the franchise’s glory days.

Nov. 13, 2019

Next up for the Lakers are the 4-6 Sacramento Kings at home on Friday night.

Then the Lakers have the 4-6 Atlanta Hawks at home Sunday and the 4-7 Thunder at home Tuesday before visiting the Thunder on Nov. 22.

The Lakers will continue on the road to the 4-7 Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 23, the 5-6 San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 25 and finish the trip at the 2-8 New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 27.

The Lakers end the month of November playing the 2-7 Washington Wizards on the 29th at home.

But for Lakers coach Frank Vogel, it’s about the team that comes next.

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“I really try to have a next-game, one-game-at-a-time type of mindset,” Vogel said. “I know we have a couple of home games before we go on the road. I’m not even sure who we play past [Sacramento]. But we’re just going to have to have a stay-in-the-moment type of mindset. The games are going to keep coming. We’re going to have good opponents, not-so-good opponents. We’re going have games, road games. But the focus and the concentration is going to be on today and the moment and what’s coming next.”

Caldwell-Pope injures ankle

Lakers reserve guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter against the Warriors and was forced to leave the court.

The Lakers said Caldwell-Pope got X-rays that were negative for a fracture, but that he will be reevaluated Thursday on the team’s off day.

Pope was going in for a layup when he came down awkwardly.

He left the game with 4 minutes and 58 seconds remaining.

“I tweaked it,” Caldwell-Pope said. “There is some swelling, but not much. I was going up to tear it down, but I had too much force, I guess.”

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