The All-Star guard's sprained left ankle is bothering him on a night when the Lakers will try to snap a nine-game losing streak in Portland.

As Lakers drift through their all-too-typical winter doldrums on court, owner Jerry Buss appears to be cutting costs, which could affect their ability to trade for Bulls Kirk Hinrich, or retain Coach Phil Jackson. Normalcy (shudder) returns to Lakerdom.

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images Baron Davis is ready to take over the play calling in Los Angeles The thing you have to realize about Baron Davis is that this wasn’t what he had in mind. When he signed with the Clippers in July 2008, it was with a certain expectation: Davis would return to his beloved hometown and join forces with Elton Brand to form a powerful pick-and-roll tandem.

Readers say Bryant will never be able to surpass what Jerry West and Magic Johnson did for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant will never be the greater Laker in history because he has never given himself fully to this city or its fans. He doesn't even live in Los Angeles!

LOS ANGELES(AP) Chauncey Billups scored a career-high 39 points, including nine 3-pointers, and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 126-113 Friday night, ending the Lakers' eight-game home winning streak.