Fox Becomes a Heavyweight

Someone asked Rick Fox late Tuesday night if he had ever guarded Karl Malone before.

“Yeah,” Nick Van Exel said from the next locker stall. “In NBA Live.”

This was no video game. This was Fox, normally a small forward at 6 feet 7 and 242 pounds, taking on Malone, the prototype power forward and two inches and about 15 pounds heavier, in NBA live action. The Lakers went to position by patchwork with Robert Horry sidelined because of a bad hamstring and Elden Campbell and Corie Blount in foul trouble.

It was part of the small-small lineup they used in the second half, with Kobe Bryant also in the frontcourt. It also was part of the 97-92 victory over Utah as Malone finished with a game-high 26 points, but only 10 after intermission.

TONIGHT

Los Angeles vs.

Minnesota

* 7:30

* Fox Sports

West

Site--Forum.

Radio--KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records--Lakers 9-0, Timberwolves 6-3.

Record vs. Timberwolves (1996-97)--3-1.

Update--Stanley Roberts, making his first appearance in Los Angeles after being traded to Minnesota by the Clippers, is averaging 14 minutes a game as the backup center. DeJuan Wheat signed with the Timberwolves after being cut by the Lakers, the team that drafted him in the second round. The release came at Wheat’s request, believing he had a better chance to play elsewhere.