Al Jefferson

Orlando 106, at Minnesota 94: Rashard Lewis scored 21 points, and Matt Barnes added 17 to help the Magic snap a three-game road losing streak with a victory over the Timberwolves. Jonny Flynn led Minnesota with 23 points, Kevin Love added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Al Jefferson had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Vince Carter was held to 12 points, and Dwight Howard had nine for the Magic. Lakers 109, Sacramento 108: Kobe Bryant made a three-point basket at the buzzer. -- associated press

Kurt Rambis was back in town, enduring a season that couldn't get much worse. Somehow his dry sense of humor remains intact while approaching the end of his second season as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He eyed up a small group of reporters when it was time to start his pregame news briefing Friday at Staples Center. There was a slight pause. Nobody asked any questions. "Is that it?" he said wryly, breaking the brief silence and pretending to head back into the locker room.

Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis had surgery Tuesday to repair his broken right thumb after fighting with a childhood friend while riding in an SUV. Davis is expected to sit out at least six weeks and the Celtics said he also could be suspended for his behavior. In a statement released by the team, Davis apologized to his teammates, coaches and the organization. Davis signed a contract with Boston last summer that would pay him about $6 million over the next two years.

at Houston 120, Minnesota 114 (3OT) : Aaron Brooks scored a career-high 43 points, Chuck Hayes grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds and the Rockets won in triple overtime. Al Jefferson pulled down a franchise-record 26 rebounds and scored 26 points for the Timberwolves. at Denver 115, Orlando 97: Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 24 as the Nuggets won for the fourth time in five games. Matt Barnes scored a season-high 28 points for the Magic. San Antonio 109, at Oklahoma City 108 (OT)

at Houston 120, Minnesota 114 (3OT) : Aaron Brooks scored a career-high 43 points, Chuck Hayes grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds and the Rockets won in triple overtime. Al Jefferson pulled down a franchise-record 26 rebounds and scored 26 points for the Timberwolves. at Denver 115, Orlando 97: Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 24 as the Nuggets won for the fourth time in five games. Matt Barnes scored a season-high 28 points for the Magic. San Antonio 109, at Oklahoma City 108 (OT)

at Atlanta 93, Boston 85: Jamal Crawford scored 18 points, and the Hawks beat the Celtics for the second time this season. Dallas 112, at San Antonio 103: Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, 16 in the fourth quarter, when the Mavericks rallied from a 10-point deficit. at Denver 99, Cleveland 97: The Nuggets won without injured Carmelo Anthony, and despite LeBron James' 35 points for the Cavaliers. Miami 109, at Phoenix 105: Dwyane Wade had 33 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Heat.

Kurt Rambis was back in town, enduring a season that couldn't get much worse. Somehow his dry sense of humor remains intact while approaching the end of his second season as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He eyed up a small group of reporters when it was time to start his pregame news briefing Friday at Staples Center. There was a slight pause. Nobody asked any questions. "Is that it?" he said wryly, breaking the brief silence and pretending to head back into the locker room.

The Twin Towers live on. A generation ago, the NBA had so many dominant centers that two resided on a single team. Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson gave the Houston Rockets a pair of 7-footers who terrorized every opponent not named the Boston Celtics. The league still has two preeminent centers … among 30 teams. There's Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum and pretty much no one else. Tim Duncan was so five years ago. Defensive whiz Tyson Chandler is as one-sided as an attorney's closing argument.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Al Jefferson, who has emerged as one of the best post players in the NBA, will sit out the rest of the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Coach Kevin McHale said Jefferson, averaging 23.1 points and 11 rebounds a game, probably will have surgery in the next week to 10 days. He was injured when he landed awkwardly late in Sunday's 101-97 loss to New Orleans.

The list includes Blake Griffin , Brian Skinner and Marcus Camby . All victims of Clippers teammate Craig "Rhino" Smith , and all injured during training camp. Now, perhaps, is the time to add an opponent to the list. Smith, jokingly, had a former teammate in mind with tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. None other than Big Al. As in Al Jefferson . "I told him I'm going to take him down," Smith said, laughing, at practice Sunday.

at Atlanta 93, Boston 85: Jamal Crawford scored 18 points, and the Hawks beat the Celtics for the second time this season. Dallas 112, at San Antonio 103: Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, 16 in the fourth quarter, when the Mavericks rallied from a 10-point deficit. at Denver 99, Cleveland 97: The Nuggets won without injured Carmelo Anthony, and despite LeBron James' 35 points for the Cavaliers. Miami 109, at Phoenix 105: Dwyane Wade had 33 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Heat.

Orlando 106, at Minnesota 94: Rashard Lewis scored 21 points, and Matt Barnes added 17 to help the Magic snap a three-game road losing streak with a victory over the Timberwolves. Jonny Flynn led Minnesota with 23 points, Kevin Love added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Al Jefferson had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Vince Carter was held to 12 points, and Dwight Howard had nine for the Magic. Lakers 109, Sacramento 108: Kobe Bryant made a three-point basket at the buzzer. -- associated press

The list includes Blake Griffin , Brian Skinner and Marcus Camby . All victims of Clippers teammate Craig "Rhino" Smith , and all injured during training camp. Now, perhaps, is the time to add an opponent to the list. Smith, jokingly, had a former teammate in mind with tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. None other than Big Al. As in Al Jefferson . "I told him I'm going to take him down," Smith said, laughing, at practice Sunday.

Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis had surgery Tuesday to repair his broken right thumb after fighting with a childhood friend while riding in an SUV. Davis is expected to sit out at least six weeks and the Celtics said he also could be suspended for his behavior. In a statement released by the team, Davis apologized to his teammates, coaches and the organization. Davis signed a contract with Boston last summer that would pay him about $6 million over the next two years.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Al Jefferson, who has emerged as one of the best post players in the NBA, will sit out the rest of the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Coach Kevin McHale said Jefferson, averaging 23.1 points and 11 rebounds a game, probably will have surgery in the next week to 10 days. He was injured when he landed awkwardly late in Sunday's 101-97 loss to New Orleans.

Time: 7:30. On the air: TV: TNT; Radio: 710, 1330. Where: Staples Center. Records: Lakers 0-2, Jazz 0-0. Record vs. Jazz (2010-11): 2-2. Update: The Jazz finished 39-43 last season, a tumultuous time that included Coach Jerry Sloan's resignation, the trade of top-notch point guard Deron Williams and a rare failure to secure a playoff spot. Utah is sturdy down low, with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and up-and-comer Derrick Favors.