Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant stands in the way of Andrew Bogut and the Golden State Warriors making NBA history.
If the Warriors, on their home court Oracle Arena, defeat the Lakers on Tuesday (2.30pm Wednesday AEDT) they will have opened the NBA season with 16 consecutive wins.
It is a feat that has never been accomplished.
The 1948-49 Washington Capitols, coached by Red Auerbach, and the 1993-94 Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, had 15-0 season openings.
"Now that we are here and tied the record, it's a huge accomplishment," Warriors guard Stephen Curry said.
"You never know if we are going to be in this position again."
Melbourne-born centre Bogut will be a key to stifling the Lakers, who have the second-worst record in the NBA with just two wins in 13 games.
Bogut will go chest-to-chest with 218cm tall two-time All-Star centre Roy Hibbert.
Bryant, after overcoming serious leg injuries in recent years, has been accused of not playing team basketball.
In the Lakers' dismal 107-93 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday the 37-year-old Bryant had 12 shot attempts in the first quarter and made just six of 22 for the game.
Bryant has warned not to write his Lakers off shocking the Warriors.
"I've seen stranger things happen," Bryant said.
The Warriors know a 16-win opening record would mean little if they don't go on and win another championship.
The same with eclipsing the record 72 win season by Michael Jordan's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
"Would it be a successful season for us? Not really," Warriors' interim coach Luke Walton, asked about breaking records but failing to defend the title, said.
What the Warriors hope to do is secure enough regular season wins to rest key players later so they are fresh heading into the playoffs.
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