LA Lakers vs Orlando Magic

The Lakers continue their nine-game road trip with one of their tougher challenges: facing Southeast Division-leading Orlando and Dwight Howard on Friday night. It'll be the first major head-to-head challenge for new Lakers center Pau Gasol.

Kobe Bryant, bothered by a sore right pinky finger, will need to pull out some of the tricks deepest in his bag, because he'll be guarded much of the game by former Laker Maurice Evans, who has faced Bryant regularly in practice the past couple of years. Evans and Brian Cook were traded for Trevor Ariza, who has a foot fracture, earlier this season.

Evans is averaging 8.2 points and 2.9 rebounds -- slight increases from his time with the Lakers. He has been starting ahead of Keith Bogans recently. Cook remains good friends with Lakers forward Luke Walton.

On the Other side, we have the Orlando Magic that still have more road wins (19) than anyone else in the league, but their 13-9 record at home doesn't scare many teams. They were blown out at home by Dallas Monday before they pounded the Nets on Wednesday.

The Lakers are coming Friday with the addition of Pau Gasol, who figures to make them serious contenders, adding a consistent low-post threat they didn't have before.

The Magic beat the Lakers earlier this season in Los Angeles, which was the first time they had beaten them away from home in 11 years.

Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks

Kevin Garnett from the Celtics broke his silence Wednesday, speaking for the first time since suffering his abdominal strain January 25th. While it's certain now that he won't play Friday in Minnesota, it is still a slight possibility he could play against San Antonio Sunday. But Garnett was offering no specifics. Though Garnett tried to play a day-and-a-half after suffering the injury, he soon learned it was more severe than he initially thought.

For this game we also have The Minnesota Timberwolves, that a little more than a week ago they had yet to win when they didn't score 100 points. Then, against both Chicago and New Jersey, they did just that. They did it again Friday and beat the Clippers, scoring 104 and holding L.A. to 83 points.

The Wolves' defense is improving, notwithstanding Monday's loss at home to red-hot Houston.

Better defense plus the continuing emergence of Al Jefferson are the reasons the Wolves have improved so drastically the past two weeks.

Utah Jazz vs Sacramento Kings

It's in Utah Jazz sights, even if it's the last thing the Jazz want to talk about. All they have to do is beat Sacramento, Chicago and Seattle and the Jazz will be able to enjoy a 13-game winning streak over the All-Star break.

The Jazz won their 10th game in a row Wednesday, prevailing in overtime against the Nuggets. They have a chance not only to extend their league-best winning streak but also to win the season series against Sacramento on Friday at Arco Arena. A victory Friday would also be the Jazz's sixth straight on the road, which seemed unthinkable when they won just six of their first 21 road games this season.

The Sacramento kings goal was far-fetched to begin with.

When the Kings began their five-game homestand on Jan. 30, they talked of winning all five games and reaching the .500 mark before hitting the road again. They came up short against Seattle on Wednesday night, falling to three games below .500 with only Friday's game against Utah left on the home stretch.