Lakers Activate Knight; Celestand on Injured List

The Lakers activated Travis Knight, who had sat out seven games because of a sprained right ankle. To make room for Knight, the Lakers put rookie guard John Celestand, whose tendinitis in his right knee has flared up, on the injured list.

How much Knight, who was averaging 5.1 minutes, 0.7 points and 1.6 rebounds, will play remains to be seen.

“He’s good insurance for us,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “We’ve got a pretty good rotation and I like playing with nine to 10 men.”

Whatever time Knight gets, it will be more than he would have gotten if he had continued to struggle on the bad ankle.

“I thought he had lost strength,” said Jackson. “He couldn’t take off on one leg. It 1/8the injury 3/8 changed his style. He is a hustle player and he needs to play that way.”

Celestand had played in 12 games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.3 assists.

Knight did not play Saturday night.

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Both Derek Fisher and A.C. Green got into the holiday spirit.

Fisher pledged $1,000 for every assist collected in Saturday night’s game to the Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation matched Fisher’s pledge.

The A.C. Green Youth Foundation gave away holiday bears to all fans in attendance.

Asked kiddingly before Saturday’s game if he felt any pressure to produce assists, Fisher replied with a serious response.

“Actually, I am,” he said. “I want to get as much money as possible donated within the context of what we are trying to do.”

Fisher finished with five assists.