HOUSTON -- Lakers center Tarik Black on Monday night added his name to a long list of wounded rotation players whose absence is undermining the promise that marked the first few weeks of this season in Los Angeles.Black suffered an ankle sprain in a 107-101 home loss to the Utah Jazz, increasing the number of sidelined rotation players to five for the Lakers (10-13). Relatedly, the Lakers have dropped three consecutive games, four of six and six of eight as they ready for their second meeting with the Rockets on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.When the Lakers topped the Rockets at Staples Center on Oct. 26, it seemed to mark the start of something surprising. But one by one, the Lakers have succumbed to injuries, with Black following guards DAngelo Russell (left knee), Jose Calderon (right hamstring) and Nick Young (calf) and forward Larry Nance Jr. (right knee) to the injured list. The Lakers momentum has suffered in lockstep with the lost bodies.Just continue to play, continue to work, Lakers guard Lou Williams said. Its still early in the season. Weve hit a little turbulence right now and hit a little rough patch. Weve got to have other guys step in and weve got to continue to compete.The Lakers were forced to utilize a patchwork lineup against the Jazz, starting rookie forward Brandon Ingram at point guard. The experimentation was borne out of necessity and strategy, with the Lakers attempting to employ a personnel package capable of switching everything defensively. A similar gambit might be required against the Rockets, whose pick-and-roll proficiency has yielded the third-ranked offense in the NBA.For Ingram, opportunities abound with Russell and Calderon unavailable.Its great for him. Its absolutely great for him, Lakers coach Luke Walton said. To be able to call plays and bring the ball up and play from that position whether he struggles or has a good game, its still great learning opportunities and experience for him.The Rockets (14-7) thought theyd been made whole with the news that the front office had matched the Brooklyn Nets offer sheet for restricted free agent forward-center Donatas Motiejunas, at least until his agent -- former Bulls guard B.J. Armstrong -- declared Tuesday that Motiejunas would not show for his mandatory physical.Assuming that the issue is resolved, Motiejunas provides the Rockets something theyve lacked in his absence: A big who can pass and help facilitate their offense. Motiejunas posted a career-high 12.2 assist rate last season. Currently, second-year forward-center Montrezl Harrell leads all Houston big men with an 8.0 assist rate.Thats where hell fit in, Rockets coach Mike DAntoni said. He will move the ball a lot. Most of our guys move it toward the rim, which is good. I like that. Its hard to get into specifics with what he can do because hes not with the team but his role will be a good one. He knows how to play so I cant see why it would be anything but positive.Added Rockets guard James Harden on what Motiejunas brings to the table: His passing. Hes versatile. Hes smart, playmaking. Hes not one-dimensional. Hopefully he can get acclimated in our system and be ready to go. Ozzie Newsome Browns Jersey . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. 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JACKSON, Miss. -- Kevin Streelman wasnt the only one who took advantage of nearly ideal conditions at Jackson County Club.The 37-year-old did it a little better than everyone else, though, finishing with a 9-under 63 for a two-shot lead after the first round of the Sanderson Farms Championship.Streelman made 10 birdies Thursday, including eight in an 11-hole stretch. With more good weather forecast for the next three days, he said the low scores will have to keep coming if he wants to have a shot at winning the tournament.When you get PGA Tour players on great greens with great conditions and theres a fair amount of wedges in our hands on this golf course -- theyre going to make some birdies, Streelman said.Trey Mullinax, Seamus Power and Carl Pettersson all shot 65 to sit two shots behind Streelman. Seven others -- including Lucas Glover and Camilo Villegas -- were among those three shots back.Defending champion Peter Malnati shot a 71. Of the 132 players, 100 shot even par or better.Streelman is a two-time PGA Tour winner, with his last victory in 2014 at the Travelers Championship. He missed the cut two weeks ago in the season-opening Safeway Open.Streelman said he wasnt planning on playing at Sandeerson Farms until his poor performance in California.dddddddddddd Its been a good decision so far: The 9-under 63 is his career-low score in relation to par. He shot an 8-under 62 at the Travelers in 2008.It was pretty flawless ball-striking to be honest, Streelman said. Hit a lot of fairways.Mullinax -- a rookie making his fifth career PGA Tour start -- was among the others who took advantage of the forgiving course to post a low score. The 24-year-old finished tied for 22nd at the Safeway Open two weeks ago and continued to play well in Jackson.The goal this week was to give myself the best chance to win, and today was a good start, Mullinax said. We have three days left.The 29-year-old Power is making just his second start on the PGA Tour. He finished 15th at the Olympics while playing for Ireland over the summer and said the experience helped give him confidence.The biggest thing to remember is Im not going to win the tournament at 7 under, Power said. Im going to have to get to 20-under, so thats the overall goal you have to get to and then see what happens from there. ' ' '
