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The Lakers' regular season reaches and passes the quarter pole tonight. Their opponents for the occasion are the Utah Jazz, who've rebounded from a 4-6 start to win 7 of their past 11. Last we saw the Jazz they were changing the employment status of one Mike Brown. The Lake Show's lifeless performance in a loss to Utah in Salt Lake City on November 7 brought the Mike Brown era to an end and led us first into the glorious tenure of Bernie Bickerstaff and now into the more troubled reign of Mike D'Antoni. So... thanks?
Pau Gasol will miss his fourth straight game tonight. Needless to add, the Stevii are out as well. The Lakers might, however, catch a break, as a couple key Utah players are hurting too. Al Jefferson (back spasms) and Derrick Favors (plantar fasciitis) are both listed as questionable. Neither played Friday against Toronto, which left the Jazz with a frontcourt rotation of Paul Millsap, Enes Kanter and Jeremy Evans.