Another loss?

SAN ANTONIO -- The Lakers' 112-111 loss Wednesday to the San Antonio Spurs was tough enough for them to stomach. But they were also concerned about losing veteran guard Derek Fisher after he tweaked his groin while fighting around a screen set by San Antonio's Tim Duncan in the fourth quarter. Fisher went to the locker room, then returned to play the game's final 3:27.

"He had a bit of a groin pull," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Fisher, "and we had to struggle without him for a while. But he came back and played and we'll see what happens tomorrow."

The Lakers suddenly have some serious health concerns. After all, they were already without backup guards Jordan Farmar (left knee surgery) and Sasha Vujacic (back spasms). What's more, forward Luke Walton did not make the trip to Texas because of pain in the ball of his right foot.

Backup forward Trevor Ariza could end up playing a good deal more at guard, and he's been playing quite a bit against opposing point guards in the absence of Farmar and Vujacic. Ariza could very well be forced to start and end the game at guard when the Lakers play host to the Orlando Magic on Friday.