Preview: Just when you thought the injury bug couldn't get any worse for the Wolves ... coach Randy Wittman missed practice Monday because of a bad back. "He's day to day, kind of like the team," assistant coach Jerry Sichting said. Forwards Antoine Walker (ankle) and Al Jefferson (bruised knee) barely practiced, and starting point guard Marko Jaric, out since the first quarter of Friday's game against San Antonio because of a sprained foot and ankle, returned to practice some but is listed as doubtful ... The Lakers, 2-5 in their past seven games, beat the Wolves 107-93 on Nov. 9 at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and Lamar Odom had 18 points and 10 rebounds in his season debut in that one.
Player to watch: Bryant is second to Cleveland's LeBron James in league scoring, with a 27.6 point average. He scored 40 and 50 points in games against the Wolves last season and has scored 40 or more points 86 times in his career. Only Wilt Chamberlain (271), Michael Jordan (173) and Elgin Baylor (88) have done that more often.
Numbers: Lakers coach Phil Jackson last week agreed to a two-year contract extension worth about $24 million that will keep him with the team through 2010 ... The Wolves have used nine different starting lineups in their first 15 games.
Injuries: Wolves guard Randy Foye (kneecap stress reaction) and Theo Ratliff (knee) remain out indefinitely. Jaric is listed as doubtful. Walker and Jefferson will be re-evaluated at this morning's shootaround. For the Lakers, forwards Kwame Brown (sprained ankle and knee) and Ronnie Turiaf (mild concussion) are not with the team.
JERRY ZGODA