Magic Misses Exhibition Loss

Without Magic Johnson, the Lakers lost their exhibition game to the Utah Jazz, 107-103, Friday night at the new Delta Center.

Johnson returned home because of an undisclosed illness that had begun Thursday night, according to the Lakers. Johnson had decided to fly with the team to Utah because he felt better Friday morning, but he felt sick again after arriving in Salt Lake City.

Second-year guard Tony Smith keyed a late Laker burst, scoring 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter before leaving with an apparent ankle injury.

The Lakers and Jazz are both 4-3 in exhibition play.