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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 11:18 p.m., Wednesday, January 7, 2009

NBA: Odom's bone bruise isn't serious, Lakers learn

Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. — Although Lamar Odom's right knee injury is just a bone bruise, it's still hurting the depleted Los Angeles Lakers.

Odom didn't travel to the Lakers' game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night after getting hurt while fouling Chris Paul late in the second quarter of Los Angeles' loss to New Orleans one night earlier. An MRI exam revealed the injury wasn't serious, but it still could keep Odom out of the lineup for a bit longer.

"A bone bruise ... takes a while," coach Phil Jackson said outside the Lakers' locker room in Oakland. "It's a tough one. We're still not out of the woods."

Jackson confirmed Odom might be available for Friday's home game against Indiana.

"I'm not putting any hopes on that," Jackson said. "I'd like to have him play, but we're not (sure)."

Odom scored 12 points in 13 minutes against the Hornets before getting injured. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 26.2 minutes per game for the Western Conference leaders.

Jackson was missing a full third of his regular rotation heading into a game against the Warriors, whose uptempo style typically puts a premium on depth. Guard Jordan Farmar probably will be out for at least six more weeks after surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee, while Luke Walton will be on the injured list for at least two more weeks with a sore right foot.

Jackson said Chinese swingman Sun Yue and forward Josh Powell might be among the Lakers who would have to play more minutes in Odom's absence.