A sore groin is causing problems for Gasol, who sat out practice Thursday, according to media reports.

Signs are good, however. Gasol called himself probable for the game, Lakers beat reporter Mike Trudell posted on Twitter. Gasol is confident he will be able to start.

Teammates worked out Thursday while Gasol used a second consecutive day to nurse his injury. If Gasol can't go, look for Robert Sacre in his place.

Gasol sat out to start the second half of Tuesday's loss to the Pacers. His groin, he told the Los Angeles Times later, "started bothering me from the beginning. I couldn't do anything really explosively."

In this difficult season for the Lakers — Tuesday was their 30th loss; they have won 16 times — Gasol is also fending off trade rumors. He went on a rant last week after a loss to the Magic. He called any idea of the team making the players a dream (and not the good kind).

Having an injury-riddled lineup, especially with senior citizens Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash ailing, makes for a tough time for a franchise accustomed to success. Bryant continues to struggle through rehab on a sore and swollen left knee.

Steve Blake returned to practice Thursday and might get back into action Tuesday if his sore elbow allows.


SNOW BIZ


Fear not, Atlanta fans: Those tickets you have for the postponed Pistons-Hawks game will be honored. The teams now will play on April 8.

While Georgia and other less hardy Southern states continue to reel from this week's winter storm, calling off the game was a smart decision.

The change means the Hawks will play on consecutive nights, with the Celtics coming to town on April 9.

There could be additional tension for the Pistons and Hawks as they try to make the playoffs. While the Hawks are in good shape, the Pistons are struggling to get into the eight-team postseason field.


MAV-RIPS


Rick Carlisle wasn't a happy coach on Thursday, hours after his Mavericks bungled through a loss to the Rockets. So, he lit a fire under his players while making it known his starters' jobs aren't safe.

"Everything's in play, yeah, no question about it," Carlisle told the Dallas Morning News. "We got a lot of guys who are ready. We'll keep looking at it every day. Our guys who haven't played much practiced well today and I'm certain that they're ready to go if needed. We'll see where we are when the game starts tomorrow night."

Of particular concern is the Mavs' defense. Players resembled pylons Wednesday.

"I don't know how many times they blew by us, but I'm glad we started fouling [Dwight] Howard because I was starting to get the chills over there from all of the blow-bys," Carlisle told reporters after the game, tongue firmly planted in cheek. "It saved our guys the embarrassment of getting blown by two or three times in a row."

He also said he didn't see the Mavs play with intensity until they faced a double-digit deficit late in the game.

Dirk Nowitzki also was peeved after Wednesday's game. "The defense was horrible all night," Nowitzki told ESPNDallas. "I mean, every time down somebody was in the paint laying the ball up. On transition, on drives, pick-and-roll plays. If you give up 117 at the house, you're gonna lose."

Defensive shortcomings are no surprise, given the team's makeup. And Nowitzki isn't a contender for defensive player of the year. Still, Carlisle is rightly demanding effort that was missing against the Rockets.

"I know we can do better," Carlisle said.


D-WILL, THE WAY


Don't expect Deron Williams to start Friday against the Thunder. Coach Jason Kidd has plans for his star point guard to come off the bench once again.

Kidd isn't pushing Williams in his return from an ankle injury. Besides, why mess with success?

The Nets are 10-2 in recent games (both losses were to the Raptors), and Williams has some burrs to polish off his game. Patrick Patterson converted a steal of a Williams pass into the winning basket on Wednesday.

For his part, Williams isn't sweating his reserve role.

"It doesn't matter me. We're rolling and I'm just trying to do what the team needs me to do," Williams said. "I'm coming off the bench and trying to get a rhythm, get back to playing good basketball."

Contributors: Ray Slover, The Associated Press