Basketball in Los Angeles

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Basketball

College

Most of these schools put consistently competitive women's fives, as well as men's, on their respective courts. The Trojans of the University of Southern California (213/740-4672. usctrojans.cstv.com) play at Galen Center (Figueroa St. at Jefferson Blvd., Downtown. 213/748-6136). The Bruins of the University of California at Los Angeles (310/825-2101. uclabruins.collegesports.com) play at Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus. These schools go head to head in Pac 10 competition each year. A lesser-known team that has lately stirred the waters is Malibu's own Waves of Pepperdine University (310/506-4935. www.pepperdinesports.collegesports.com). The 49ers of California State University at Long Beach (CSULB or Long Beach State, State University Dr. near Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach. 562/985-4949. www.longbeachstate.com) are known to mix it up pretty well on the court in their arena, the Pyramid. Another local team worth watching is the Lions at Loyola Marymount University (2700 LMU Dr., Westchester. 310/338-6095. www.lmulions.com).

Professional

L.A.'s pro basketball teams play at the Staples Center. The Los Angeles Lakers (310/426-5000. www.nba.com/lakers) still attract a loyal following that includes celebrity fans like Jack Nicholson, Dyan Cannon, and Leonardo DiCaprio. The 2005 return of head coach Phil Jackson, who led the team to three NBA championships, recharged fans after the 2004 departure of superstar Shaquille O'Neal. L.A.'s "other" team, the much-maligned but newly revitalized Clippers (888/895-8662. www.nba.com/clippers), sells tickets that are generally cheaper and easier to get than those for Lakers games. The Los Angeles Sparks (310/426-6031. www.wnba.com/sparks) have built a WNBA dynasty around former USC star Lisa Leslie.