Jazz point guard Raul Lopez has a small bone spur causing irritation beneath a kneecap, the Jazz said Wednesday.

Lopez exited early from the Jazz's Tuesday-night loss to the Lakers, playing only in the opening quarter after complaining of pain in the joint.

The injury is in his left knee, not the one that has twice been surgically reconstructed.

The Jazz plan to treat Lopez with anti-inflammatory medications, and no surgery is planned.

Lopez, who underwent an MRI exam Wednesday, is expected to be available when Utah plays Dallas next Wednesday.

The 17-35 Jazz are idle for a week, taking time off for Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in Denver.

The break comes at a much-needed time for the beat-up Jazz, though coach Jerry Sloan refused to use a long list of injuries as an excuse after Utah's 102-95 loss to the Lakers.

"If you sit around and feel sorry for yourself," Sloan said, "I think that's the worst thing you can do."

The Jazz played in Los Angeles without their top two scorers, forwards Carlos Boozer (sprained right foot) and Andrei Kirilenko (sprained right ankle).

"I think the break will help to recover our players," Lopez said. "It's so hard sometimes, playing with all the adversity when you have two of your best players with problems."

Boozer and Kirilenko, both hurt in Monday's loss at Phoenix, also are expected to be ready for the Mavericks.

So are Raja Bell, who played and finished with 16 points against the Lakers despite already having a hyperextended right elbow and despite sustaining a dislocated finger on each of his hands, and usual starting point guard Keith McLeod, who has been on the injured list with a strained hamstring.

If Mcleod is activated as intended, someone from the Jazz's 12-man active roster must take his place on the injured list.

"With injuries and mental fatigue," Bell said, "I think it's a good time for the break."

But Bell hopes the interruption won't set the Jazz back. Bell feels the Jazz are performing better than the four losses in their last five games reflect.

"We've been playing a lot harder," he said.

"It hasn't necessarily turned into wins, but the energy has been good," Bell added. "A couple breaks go our way, and we have the ball rolling."

A couple good breaks, that is.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com