O'Neal's jersey to be retired

--Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com what was expected: The Lakers intend to retire Shaquille O'Neal's No. 34 at some point next season. Lakers owner Jerry Buss had indicated previously that the Lakers would do that, even though the club and O'Neal parted on somewhat poor terms in 2004.

--The Lakers wrap up their season-long six-game trip with an afternoon game Sunday in Toronto. They'll need to win it to come away with a .500 record on the venture caused by the Grammy Awards inhabiting Staples Center. The Lakers have won at Denver, lost at Utah, lost at Philadelphia, won at Boston and lost at New York. They are 4-10 on the road this season.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's a great story." -- Kobe Bryant, on Jeremy Lin's emergence in the NBA.

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