Tension mounts as Lakers seek first win (AFP)

Even resurgent superstar Kobe Bryant seems unable to stop the slide of the once mighty Los Angeles Lakers, who are hurtling toward a historically horrible 2014-15 season. The Lakers' 0-5 start is their worst since 1957, when the team then based in Minneapolis started 0-7 en route to a 19-53 record that still represents the franchise's worst winning percentage ever. Los Angeles will try to halt the skid on Sunday, when they host the Charlotte Hornets -- their first opponent of the season with a losing record. Two of the Lakers' defeats have come against two of the NBA's unbeaten teams -- Houston and Golden State -- and after the showdown with Charlotte they face challenging road games at Memphis and New Orleans before hosting reigning champions San Antonio and the Warriors.