Los Angeles (16-16) at Los Angeles (17-13)

Kobe Bryant made quite a return for the Los Angeles Lakers.

He’ll try to help the Lakers end a three-game slide against the Clippers when the Southern California rivals meet at the Staples Center.

Bryant returned Friday after serving a two-game suspension for elbowing Memphis’ Mike Miller in the throat on Dec. 30 and scored 48 points in a 119-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He made all seven 3-point attempts and notched the eighth 40-point effort of this season to help the Lakers end a five-game skid.

“Our spacing was good, which made it very difficult to corral me,” Bryant said. “When they did, we were able to swing the ball and get open opportunities for everybody else.”

Bryant will be seeking to help restore the pecking order of Los Angeles basketball in the Lakers’ favor. The Clippers’ three-game winning streak over the Lakers is their second-longest in the history of the series to a four-game slide in 1974-75.

The Lakers had won 44 of the previous 58 matchups.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Bryant said. “It’s going to be a good test for us and it’s going to be a challenge.”

Bryant also became the youngest player in NBA history to score 15,000 points Friday, reaching the mark at 27 years, 136 days. He accomplished the feat 19 days faster than Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain.

While the Clippers have been contending for the top spot in the Pacific Division most of the season, they are mired in their first prolonged slump. They fell for the eighth time in 11 games, 118-114 Friday at Sacramento.

Sam Cassell scored 28 points to lead the Clippers, but he missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with six seconds left as the Clippers lost for the 15th straight time in Sacramento.

“I had a decent look, not a great look,” said Cassell. “I shot the 3, and it was a shot I thought I could make.”

Elton Brand recorded his 20th double-double of the season with 24 points and 13 rebounds on Friday.

Brand is averaging 24.3 points and 14.3 rebounds during the Clippers’ winning streak over the Lakers.

The Lakers have won five of the last six matchups in which the Clippers have been the “home” team.