Lakers could enter December with losing record

With a tough stretch of schedule to start the 2013-14 season, the Lakers may not finish November with a winning record.

The big question will be the health of Kobe Bryant, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles’ tendon. Steve Nash and Pau Gasol are also still nursing injuries from last season.

Including two games in October, the Lakers will play nine at home and eight on the road before December. They’ll play four times on back-to-back nights during their first 17 games.

After opening the season at home against the Clippers on Oct. 29, the Lakers play the following night in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors. Two nights later, the Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs.

Starting the season 0-3 is possible, especially if Bryant is out.

In November, the Lakers will play two three-game road trips, first in Dallas, Houston and New Orleans and then in Washington, Brooklyn and Detroit. In between, they will make a stop in Denver on the second night of back-to-back games.

They’ll host the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Warriors and Sacramento Kings.

Even the “bad” teams play well early in the season. Where the Lakers fit on that spectrum is hard to say, especially with Bryant’s status up in the air.

Early prediction: Lakers hit December with a 7-10 record.

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.