Los Angeles Lakers Team Report - January 20

(Basketball News) - The injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers found themselves on the wrong end of an 88-85 decision against the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Kareem Rush scored 18 points and Bryon Russell added a season-high 17 points for the Lakers, who lost for the second time in six games without starters Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone. Gary Payton delivered 14 points and nine rebounds.

O’Neal, Bryant and Malone are expected to be with the Lakers during all or part of the three-game road trip that begins Wednesday night in Memphis. But none are expected to play on the trip, which concludes Saturday night in Utah.

Also missing from last night’s loss was Horace Grant, who was still in Georgia with his ailing father. Head coach Phil Jackson thinks he will be back on Wednesday in Memphis.

A tip-in by Jake Voskuhl snapped an 84-84 tie with 1:24 to play. Then, a free throw by Derek Fisher 20 seconds later brought Los Angeles within 86-85. But a layup by with 47 seconds remaining put Phoenix ahead by three.

Fisher missed two three-pointers in the final 8.2 seconds for the Lakers.