SPORTS ON WEEKEND TV : Lakers-Pistons Game Tops Lineup

Although the luster will be dimmed by the absence of Detroit All-Star guard Isiah Thomas, Sunday’s Lakers-Pistons game still tops the weekend sports television viewing choices.

NBC (Channels 4, 36 and 39) will carry the NBA contest between the teams that have won the last four NBA titles beginning at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. NBC will also air the Boston Celtics-Indiana Pacers game beginning at 10 a.m.

College Basketball: Four Southland teams will make television appearances today: No. 14 UCLA will play host to Oregon State (3 p.m., Channels 2 and 63), and USC will continue its quest for its first NCAA tournament berth since 1985, when it meets Oregon at 5 p.m. on Prime Ticket. UC Irvine faces top-ranked Nevada Las Vegas at 8 p.m. on KDOC Channel 56. In a West Coast Conference game, Loyola Marymount, winners of nine consecutive games, visits Santa Clara for an 8 p.m. SportsChannel telecast. The only weekend telecast between teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 matches No. 7 Duke and No. 9 Arizona at 1 p.m. Sunday on Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42.

Golf: The Nissan Los Angeles Open at Riviera Country Club airs at 1 p.m. today and Sunday on Channels 2 and 8.

Pro Hockey: The Kings will meet the Winnipeg Jets at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on Prime Ticket.

Boxing: Pernell Whitaker defends his world lightweight title against Anthony Jones on a card beginning at 6 p.m. tonight on HBO.