Rodman Defends Latest Ejection

With 2:04 left and the Lakers trailing by four during Saturday night’s 81-76 loss to Golden State, Dennis Rodman made a show of himself but deflated the comeback attempt by drawing two technical fouls after wrestling John Starks to the ground and then complaining about the call.

“I didn’t think it was the wisest choice,” Kobe Bryant said. “I think he knows that. But at the same time, we had to play through it.”

Rodman said he did not deserve his second Laker ejection.

“What’s new?” Rodman said. “I’ve got to be the only guy in the history of the NBA to get thrown out for doing nothing.”

Minutes after the game, Laker Coach Kurt Rambis knocked on the door of the officials’ dressing room, went in, and stayed for several minutes--with a trailing Rodman popping his head in for a few seconds.

Rambis refused to say why he went into the officials’ locker room or what, if anything, was communicated during the visit.

TONIGHT’S GAME

vs. Denver, 7:30 p.m.

Fox Sports West

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KLAC (570 AM).

* Records--Lakers 22-12; Nuggets 10-24.

* Record vs. Nuggets--1-1.

* Update--Nick Van Exel returns to the Forum for the first time since he was traded last summer. The Lakers start a three-games-in-three-nights stretch, continuing with Utah at the Forum on Tuesday and then to Sacramento on Wednesday.

* Tickets: Forum box office or TicketMaster (213) 480-3232.