Sacre set to step up

Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill all will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ upcoming road trip with injuries, leaving the struggling club without its top three big men and opening the door for former Gonzaga standout Robert Sacre. Howard has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and Gasol has a concussion after taking an elbow in the face late in Sunday night’s loss to Denver. Hill, a key backup to both, has a right hip injury. The Lakers said Gasol and Howard are both out indefinitely. Hill was to be examined again before getting a prognosis. When the Lakers open a stretch of four games in six days today in Houston, Sacre (pictured) is likely to start at center. The final pick in last June’s draft has been playing for L.A.’s affiliate in the D-League. – AP