LAKERS VS. WASHINGTON.

Tipoff: 6:30 p.m., Forum.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West; KLAC-AM (570).

Lakers (33-12) update: Before they get to enjoy the All-Star break - that is, everyone except Shaquille O'Neal and Eddie Jones, Rookie Game participants Kobe Bryant, Travis Knight and Larry Drew (assistant coach) and trainer Gary Vitti - the Lakers have three games in the next four nights. They completed January with an 11-3 mark, marking the first time since 1987-88 that L.A. has posted three straight 11-win months. Bryant, who flew home to Philadelphia on Friday for his grandmother's funeral, is expected back in time for the game.

Bullets (22-22) update: This was supposed to be a 50-win season in Washington, but the combined efforts of Chris Webber (20.2 points, 10.0 rebounds) and Juwan Howard (18.8, 8.2) might not be enough to halt the Bullets' eight-year playoff drought. Furthermore, Webber's all-around excellence wasn't enough to earn him a spot on the East squad for the All-Star Game, which angered everyone in the organization.