"I can't worry about who we're going to play." Sloan said. "I look at us and see us play Golden State and I don't even know if we want to play in the playoffs. And I've got to worry about who we're going to play? I can't go that far."

"I look at our team and hopefully we can get together and try to win some games so we have a chance to be in the playoffs. I don't know. We've got a long ways to go."

The Lakers hosted Oklahoma City on Tuesday after closing a 6-0 road trip with victories at Boston and Cleveland. They own a 13-game lead on the Jazz in the standings, a reflection of their divergent fortunes since meeting in last season's Western Conference semifinals.

Tonight's game will be the Lakers' only visit to Utah this season and their first since eliminating the Jazz with a 108-105 victory in Game 6 of the conference semifinals. The Lakers also ended the Jazz's 19-game home winning streak during the regular season.

Deron Williams predicted a "playoff atmosphere" with the Jazz hosting what he called "arguably the best team in Basketball," but he didn't want to talk about a first-round preview.

"We've got to make the playoffs first," Williams said. "We can't speculate on who we're going to play in the playoffs until we make the playoffs. It's a regular-season game, a game we need to win. That's how I'm going to attack it."

As much as the Jazz would like to avoid a first-round series with the Lakers, Paul Millsap wasn't backing down once Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko return after the All-Star break.

"We're not worried about that," Millsap said. "We're not worried about who we play. When we're at full strength, we can beat anybody in this league. That's our main focus right now, just get healthy and make the playoffs, just get there."

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Fan club

As much as he already was impressed by Kobe Bryant , Sloan's admiration only increased after Bryant played through a stomach virus Sunday in the Lakers' victory in Cleveland.

"He could've gone in and sat down, nobody would have said anything," Sloan said. "If he's sick and throwing up, it would have been easy for him to do, but what'd he do? He went out there and played."

Sloan added, "I don't think enough recognition goes to guys like that," before acknowledging that Bryant is never lacking for recognition. He also praised Bryant for the standard he sets every time he steps on the court.

"He has to get ready to play probably more than most guys do because everybody wants to be judged by how they play against Kobe," Sloan said. "That makes his job even tougher, but it tells you what kind of toughness he has to do that."

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Briefly

Brevin Knight did not practice Tuesday with a bruised left quadriceps and is a game-time decision to play tonight. . . . The Jazz (29-23) went into the All-Star break with a 34-19 record last season. Jazz vs. L.A. Lakers

At EnergySolutions Arena

Time ? 7 p.m.

TV/Radio ? KJZZ, 1320 AM, 98.7 FM

Records ? Jazz 29-23, Lakers pending Tuesday night game

Last meeting ? Jazz lost 113-100 on Jan. 2

About the Jazz ? The Jazz would like to avoid falling behind 37-20 in the first quarter, as they did in losing to the Lakers last month at Staples Center. Deron Williams has had four consecutive 30-point scoring games. Paul Millsap will have to battle Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom after totaling just 10 points and 14 rebounds last weekend at Sacramento and Golden State.

About the Lakers ? Kobe Bryant's 40 points against the Jazz last month are the most by an opposing player this season. Andrew Bynum is out eight to 12 weeks after suffering a torn MCL in his right knee. Pau Gasol is the reigning Western Conference player of the week. Odom is coming off a 28-point, 17-rebound effort Sunday against Cleveland. The Lakers acquired former No. 3 overall pick Adam Morrison from Charlotte in a trade for Vladimir Radmanovic.