Andrew Bynum doesn't help much

SALT LAKE CITY — Andrew Bynum didn't run out of gas in Game 3. He didn't play long enough.

Sore knee and all, he continued to struggle against the Utah Jazz, running into early foul trouble and never getting untracked Thursday.

He finished with four points and two rebounds in seven minutes.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, cognizant that Bynum totaled only 17 points and seven rebounds in the first two games, spoke of being surprised by Bynum's stats.

"Yeah, I really am," Jackson said. "He had some really terrific games for us coming back and playing well. He can perform better than he is right now."

On Thursday, Bynum picked up a foul, missed a hook shot and moved too late to block Deron Williams' driving layup attempt. And that was only in the first minute of the game.

Bynum picked up his second foul with 7:39 left in the first quarter and was replaced by Lamar Odom. He checked back in to start the second quarter but left again after picking up his third foul, a charge, with 10:17 left in the quarter.

Bynum was benched in favor of Odom at the start of the third quarter. He reappeared with 2:28 left in the quarter and picked up an offensive foul 13 seconds later. He smiled. It just wasn't his night. He was removed less than a minute later when he picked up his fifth foul.

"I think he's dealing with a small lineup, a different type of a team, some awful quick action coming at him," Jackson said.

Bynum has also had trouble with his screen-and-roll defense, not to mention foul problems. Then there's his right knee.

Bynum sat out most of Wednesday's practice because of soreness in the same knee that caused him to miss 32 games because of a torn medial collateral ligament.

"I don't think it'll be an issue," Bynum said. "I'm just going to fight it out, play, keep going. In the off-season, I'll be able to train and get the strength back in the leg."

Bynum will continue to wear a brace even though it seems to be rubbing on the outside of his knee.

Bynum said the brace "turns my foot in kind of pigeon-toed. It's just a little bit weird. I've got to get used to wearing it."

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