The Lakers and Clippers will play Wednesday in their third and final regular-season game.
Andrew Bynum said it feels as though it's a playoff game.
Said Kobe Bryant: "As far as the standings go, you know, it's a big game."
The Lakers have a slim 1½-game lead over the Clippers for third place in the Western Conference. The winner of the game could help determine the Pacific Division champion and playoff seeding in the West.
Even though players from both teams deny there is a rivalry between the Staples Center neighbors, their chippy play seems to indicate otherwise.
In the teams' first two meetings, there were a combined 11 technical fouls.
Clippers center DeAndre Jordan said that Wednesday's game will be no different.
"It's going to be a physical game," he said.
The Lakers-Clippers season series is currently tied at 1-1. The Clippers have not won a series against the Lakers since the 1992-93 season.
In the video above, the Times' Melissa Rohlin and Mark Medina preview the matchup.
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