Pau Gasol not playing for Lakers tonight

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Lakers power forward Pau Gasol will not play Friday night against Oklahoma City, his third missed game because of knee tendinitis.

Gasol did not take part in shoot-around but could return Sunday against Utah. His knees have bothered him since training camp -- his left worse than his right -- and he began revealing discomfort to reporters two weeks ago.

Antawn Jamison will again start in place of Gasol. He has averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds in Gasol’s absence.

Steve Nash will also be out of Friday night’s game, as expected, his 18th missed game of the season because of a small fracture in his lower left leg. Nash hasn’t missed this many games in a row since 1999, when he sat out 22 because of an ankle injury.

Chris Duhon will start at point guard for the Lakers. He is averaging 4.5 points and 8.5 assists since replacing Darius Morris in the starting lineup two games ago.

The Lakers have lost their last four games in Oklahoma City by an average of 15.5 points, including an 0-3 mark in last season’s playoffs. The Thunder eliminated the Lakers in five games of the Western Conference semifinals.

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