LAKERS’ WEEK AHEAD

TWO GAMES

Friday at Seattle, 7:30 p.m., Channel 9 -- Gary Payton makes his return to Seattle as a Laker, so maybe they’ll be filled with more emotion than they showed during a recent stretch in which they lost four of six games. It’s too early to worry, but after a Christmas loss to the Houston Rockets, it was clear to Coach Phil Jackson that the Lakers aren’t as good as they think they are.

Sunday at Clippers, 6:30 p.m., Channels 5, 9 -- Here’s another game that’s certain to get the Lakers’ hearts thumping. Shaquille O’Neal says this is the Lakers’ town. But the Clippers have shown this season they are capable of bruising an opponent’s chin if thrust out too far. As ever, keep an eye on the Kobe Bryant-Corey Maggette matchup, which has provided good theater even as the series has been lopsided in the Lakers’ favor over the seasons.

-- Elliott Teaford