"The Lakers are 15-18. They've got their work cut out for them to keep it from getting shockingly worse.

Lakers center Dwight Howard was diagnosed Monday with a torn labrum in his right shoulder and is out indefinitely, set to be re-evaluated in a week. His injury is not severe enough to necessitate surgery to repair the tear, which is the process that usually forces athletes to be sidelined for months, not a week. Howard said after the Lakers' loss to Denver on Sunday night that the pain in his shoulder from aggravating his strained right shoulder in the game was not as bad as when he hurt it Friday night vs. the Clippers.

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol is also out indefinitely with a concussion from a blow to the face by Denver's JaVale McGee with 1:05 to play in that game. And the primary backup for Howard and Gasol, Jordan Hill injured his right hip in the game and will miss at least the upcoming trip to play Houston on Tuesday and San Antonio on Wednesday — likely meaning rookie Robert Sacre starts at center but forwards Metta World Peace, Antawn Jamison, Devin Ebanks and Earl Clark will get plenty of action in a small lineup.