Lakers Tonight

at Memphis Grizzlies

When: 5 PST.

Where: FedExForum.

On the air: TV: Channel 9; Radio: 710; 1330.

Records: Lakers 13-4, Grizzlies 7-10.

Record vs. Grizzlies: 1-0.

Update: Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said he expects a "very difficult" game from Memphis. Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo, the former USC star, has come off the bench in the last three games. Mayo is averaging a career-low 13.6 points per game on 39% shooting; rookie Xavier Henry has been starting in Mayo's place. Zach Randolph, who is averaging 16.8 points and 11.3 rebounds, didn't play in the Nov. 2 game against the Lakers because of an injury, but he is back in the lineup. Memphis center Marc Gasol, Pau's younger brother, is averaging 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

—Broderick Turner

The sweat poured off Lakers center Andrew Bynum's body, his breathing heavy from a four-on-four, half-court practice session with some of his teammates Monday.

It was another step in his recovery from right knee surgery, but Bynum said he's "not quite there yet" as far as playing in a game.

He had banged bodies in something more than a one-on-one workout for the first time during his rehabilitation process. Bynum still wants to do some five-on-five scrimmaging in a full-court situation.

"I feel pretty good. The knee didn't really hurt that much," Bynum said. "I feel a little something and it goes right away. So everything is good. I'm healing up and just getting ready."

Bynum still thinks he's two to three weeks away from playing. He may be able to play Dec. 19 at Toronto, the last of the Lakers' six-game trip.

"I'm going to get back as soon as I can," Bynum said. "I just want to be healthy.… I still have a couple of tests to pass and once I do that, I'll be back."

Bynum hopes to increase his workload in practice after the Lakers return home Thursday from a two-game trip to Memphis and Houston.

The Lakers don't play any games Saturday, Sunday or Monday, which would give Bynum more practice time.

"Andrew is going through a different phase," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. There is "some contact in the half-court game. No running full court. He's starting to get that feel of playing against bodies and that's an important aspect.

"After that, later on this week or next week, we hope to get him up and down the court. That'll be a little bit different phase for him. At that point, then it's all about his readiness as far as condition goes."

As far as bringing in another player while Bynum and backup center Theo Ratliff (left knee surgery) recover, the Lakers must weigh the cost of signing another big man versus how much Jackson would actually use that player.

It would cost the Lakers $56,000 to $60,000 per week in salary to sign a player, plus the team would have to pay the same amount in luxury taxes.

"I'm not against it," Jackson said about adding another player. "It's not part of the plans right now."

Gasol's minutes

Pau Gasol is playing a team-high 39.1 minutes per game, the eighth-most in the NBA.

In the last three games, it appears to have taken a toll on his play. He played 46 minutes against Indiana, 45 at Utah and 42 against Chicago.

During that span, Gasol scored 13, 21 and 12 points.

"Obviously, you've got to manage your body and manage your energy and make sure you do the right things so you can be out there and be effective for that stretch of time," Gasol said. "That's what I've been trying to do, trying to handle it the best way that I can."

Bryant goes for 40

Usually when Kobe Bryant scores 40-plus points for the Lakers, they win.

He had 41 on Sunday night against the Pacers, but the Lakers lost.

Overall, Bryant has scored 40 points or more in 105 regular-season games, with the Lakers going 72-33. Last season the Lakers were 7-1 when Bryant had 40 or more points against an opponent.

And in the playoffs, the Lakers are 10-1 when Bryant scores 40 or more.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

twitter.com/BA_Turner

Personally, Ron Artest said after the game, he feels great.

If he were on an "island fishing," Artest said, he would "feel great."

It's just that his game has not been so great for the Lakers this season. And there have been games when Artest has looked as if he is on an island, not quite connected with the rest of the Lakers.

Artest had another disjointed game Sunday night, scoring only three points, making only one of four shots, playing only 26 minutes 32 seconds in the Lakers' 95-92 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center.

"Last year, as you know, I had a lot of ups and downs," Artest said. "But one thing that always stays in front of me is that this is a team game. So, no matter how good I feel, I don't mind feeling uncomfortable for the win. I don't mind it. Sometimes I can't show, can't do things that I would like to do, like any kind would like to do.

"But that's not important. What's important is that we find a way to win."

But the Lakers haven't won their last two games, and Artest hasn't been at his best.

He scored 11 points in the loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

He missed his last two shots in that game, an awkward runner and a three-point attempt.

Artest's averages are down across the board this season.

He's averaging 8.5 points this season, down from 11 points last season.

He's making 39.2% of his shots this season, down from the 41.4% he made last season.

He's averaging 3.5 rebounds, down from the 4.3 he averaged last season.

He's averaging 1.8 assists, down from the 3.0 assists he averaged last season.

Still, Artest maintained that it's not about him finding his comfort level.

"I don't care about my comfort level. Honestly." Artest said. "I'm ready. But it's not about me being comfortable. It's not about my comfort level.

"We're blowing a lot of teams out early. I never play in the fourth quarter. So it's hard to judge me, really, what I'm doing. That's why I was talking before that I can't wait until we play some games like this [against the Pacers] so I have a chance to play in the fourth quarter."

Artest played 4:11 in the fourth and he made a big three-pointer with 2:43 left, pulling the Lakers to within 89-86.

He even got an offensive rebound late in the game off a missed Kobe Bryant three-pointer.

Artest dribbled the ball to the corner and passed the ball to Lamar Odom, who passed the ball to Bryant.

Bryant took another three-pointer that missed, sending the Lakers to defeat.

Even with that, as Artest walked off the court, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson asked his small forward why he didn't call a timeout.

"I asked him, 'Could everybody else on the court have called a timeout? Since I had the ball, could somebody else call a timeout?' " Artest said he asked Jackson. "And he said, 'Yes.' So, he forgot to address that with everybody. But that's OK."

Artest laughed.

As the interview came to a conclusion, Artest had one last thing to say about his comfort level.

"How do I be selfish, but at the same time listen?" Artest said. "So I feel comfortable. I'm sure he [Jackson] didn't want me to take that last three tonight. I just play. It's all about playing and trying to figure out a way."

broderick.turner@latimes.com

twitter.com/BA_Turner

It was a Sunday in November, like a lot of Sundays in November.

The Lakers, taking it one at a time in the long march to April and the start of their real season — supposedly — were out-energized in a 95-92 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Of course, Lakerdom is accustomed to post-Thanksgiving fades … some of which last until April.

Andrew Bynum was out once more.

Bynum's return had just been pushed back once more.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson wasn't happy about it with Theo Ratliff out too, leaving Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Derrick Caracter his only big men … assuming Caracter counted, at 6 feet 81/4, with 94 minutes of NBA experience.

Jackson noted bringing in help is "not in the cards," but, truth be told, wants a journeyman like Jake Voskuhl to run out there for 10 minutes.

"We're playing Pau too many minutes. Don't have a backup for either he or Lamar," said Jackson before the game.

"We put all our eggs in one basket of Andrew coming back and we hoped he'd be back by this time, by Nov. 15, by Thanksgiving time …

"So we don't know when Andrew's coming back and right now Pau didn't score in the fourth quarter the other night [against Utah] because he played too many minutes and didn't have that energy."

Unfortunately, Voskuhl would cost about $35,000 a week on a prorated $1-million veteran's minimum contract … multiplied by two by luxury tax, making it $70,000.

Happily for the Lakers, they made $353,600 Sunday night, just off their courtside seats — enough to afford Voskuhl for five weeks!

There are 136, all sold as season tickets at $2,600 each.

Unfortunately, owner Jerry Buss has the money earmarked for other purposes, confident Bynum's return is imminent.

It better be. Gasol went 45 minutes Sunday and was outscored 24-13 by Indiana's Roy Hibbert. Then there were the Clippers …

They play Sundays too, if earlier — 12:30 p.m., which is like the crack of dawn in the NBA — and with less fanfare.

Their season hadn't really begun, either … and may never.

Talk of making the playoffs is over. It's now an official rebuilding project, in which the Utah Jazz dropped them to 3-15, dispatching them, 109-97.

The Clippers have a talented, young roster — again — but even they have never had anyone like Blake Griffin, who scored 35 points with 14 rebounds and seven assists.

Plenty has happened in the 11-year history of Staples Center, be it a bevy of championship Lakers teams, an armful of losing Clippers teams and, for the music enthusiasts, a host of memorable concerts, from Bruce Springsteen to U2.

Then there was the latest piece of history, or infamy from the point of view of a Lakers fan.

The Pacers had never beaten the Lakers at Staples Center until Sunday, when they won, 95-92, to break an 0-14 skid that included three playoff losses in 2000.

Kobe Bryant had a season-high 41 points, but Pau Gasol was firmly outplayed by Pacers center Roy Hibbert, and the Lakers' reserves again abandoned the cause, failing to get the best of the Pacers' backups.

The Lakers looked tired, or uninterested, or something. They trailed, 51-45, at halftime and by 15 in the third quarter.

Weird night for the home team, in many ways.

It started with Gasol, who had 13 points on five-for-15 shooting and looked fatigued during another heavy-minute night. His assignment, Hibbert, had 24 points, shooting nine for 13.

Gasol is averaging 39 minutes a game after a restful summer in which he didn't play for the Spanish national team for the first time in five years. But he didn't look fresh Sunday.

"We really saw it tonight," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "I thought there was a number of situations where he really didn't get a good base to shoot his shot from or make a good play out of. Probably fatigue more than anything else."

Gasol was a step slow on the deciding play of the game, losing track of Hibbert in a pick-and-roll set and watching helplessly as Hibbert dunked with 16.4 seconds left. The Pacers' three-point lead stood up after Bryant missed two three-point attempts in the final seconds, including a 29-footer with 0.9 seconds to play.

The word of the night was lethargy.

"In some ways I feel more tired than others," said Gasol, who played 45 minutes Sunday. "It's a reality, but I don't complain about it. I saw the Detroit [double-overtime] game against New York. Amare Stoudemire played 54 minutes and I don't think he got asked [about it]. Obviously I'm averaging quite a few minutes and I'm out there for a while. I'll try to do my best out there and try to keep my energy as high as possible out there and do my job."

Gasol was 10th in the league in average minutes coming into Sunday.

The Lakers (13-4) were hurt by their inability to rebound late in the game, the Pacers (8-7) scoring on three consecutive possessions after they got at least one offensive rebound.

There were other issues for the Lakers. Ron Artest looked a step slow on offense, scoring three points in 26 minutes, and Shannon Brown had another bad shooting night, making only two of nine attempts.

The Lakers reserves were outscored by Indiana's, 24-14, and Derek Fisher continued a recent shooting slide, making two of eight.

Bryant didn't shoot all that well, making 14 of 33, but he was irritated by the Lakers' lack of defensive detail. "We're going to score points. But defensively, we have to sharpen that up."

The Lakers, who are 5-4 since their 8-0 start, don't have much time to tinker with their defense or rest their big men. They're in Memphis on Tuesday and Houston on Wednesday before getting a break with one game in five days.

"I thought we played a lethargic game," Jackson said. "I thought they outhustled us and obviously it paid off for them in a win."

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

The Lakers continue to wait patiently for Andrew Bynum. Sort of patiently.

The injured Lakers center raised a few eyebrows Saturday when he said he wouldn't be back for three more weeks, a proclamation that didn't exactly enthrall Coach Phil Jackson.

"We had hoped that it would be three weeks about three weeks ago," Jackson said Sunday before detailing the months-long wait for Bynum's return from knee surgery last July.

"This [surgery] is something that was supposed to take place after the season and he was supposed to be ready by the season, and we built our team around that fact. Well, everything got delayed," Jackson said. "His operation wasn't done on time, Andrew was late to his operation, there was a whole myriad of things that have gone on in this thing.

"But the type of operation he has is a very unique operation. It's not just a simple operation, so that changed the complexity of all this."

Bynum had cartilage in his right knee repaired, not removed, a move that added time to his recovery period but could conceivably be better for the knee in the long run.

Still, Jackson seemed concerned that the Lakers wouldn't know how strong Bynum would be when he did finally return.

"We still haven't seen whether it's going to be a total success or not," Jackson said. "He still is struggling to get back. Right now, our team's got to go forward and play without him. These guys are ready and willing to do that. I just have to monitor some minutes out there a little bit better."

Pau Gasol has averaged 39 minutes a game and Lamar Odom has averaged 35 minutes a game, but the Lakers are leaning against adding a veteran big man in part because it would cost $70,000 a week in salary and luxury-tax considerations.

"It's just not in the cards," Jackson said, though that was before the Lakers' 95-92 loss Sunday to Indiana, a game in which Jackson said Gasol looked tired while scoring 13 points on five-for-15 shooting in 45 minutes.

The Lakers are especially short-handed these days because reserve center Theo Ratliff is out at least two to four more weeks after undergoing knee surgery of his own.

Despite Bynum's layoff, Jackson said the 23-year-old would get back his starting role because he would need to get on the court immediately after going through pregame exercises for the knee.

"He would almost have to start," Jackson said.

Bynum has missed 113 regular-season games since the start of the 2007-08 season. He averaged 15 points and 8.3 rebounds last season.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan

Lakers center Andrew Bynum, still recovering from right knee surgery, has set his own timetable for when he wants to play in a game.

"Realistically, I'm looking at three weeks," Bynum said after he increased his practice load Saturday. "That's just me, what I want. The training staff and other people may see things different. Why so? I'm not sure."

That's because the last time the Lakers gave a date in which the team had hoped Bynum would return was around Dec. 10, when Los Angeles starts a six-game trip in Chicago.

Three weeks from now would be the Lakers' last game of the trip, in Toronto on Dec. 19. They return home to play Milwaukee on Dec. 21 and then play again on Christmas Day against the Miami Heat at Staples Center.

Somewhere around that time, Bynum, who had arthroscopic surgery in July to repair a torn ligament in his knee, wants to be back on the court playing.

He wants to try some three-on-three practices to see how that goes.

"I don't have a target," Bynum said. "I just want to be back within three weeks. That's my personal goal. It may or may not happen."

Bynum increased his activity Saturday, doing more physical drills. He worked in the low post against rookie Derrick Caracter, offensively and defensively.

At times, it was a physical one-on-one encounter.

Caracter banged Bynum, who banged back.

Assistant coaches Brian Shaw and Chuck Person, who had worked on the court with Bynum in Salt Lake City on Friday night, fed the ball to Bynum.

When Bynum was done with a session, he would run sprints and then go back to his workouts against Caracter.

Bynum said he felt good testing himself against the 6-foot-9, 275-pound Caracter.

"They [the coaches] are not trying to rush it," Bynum said. "I want to get back probably more than they want me back at this point, because they want me to be healthy. That's a good thing for me. I'm just going to keep trying to get back."

Bynum said he hasn't had any swelling, "which is good." He said, "obviously the true test" will come when he finally plays in a game.

Meanwhile, Bynum is trying to get 100% healthy.

"I'm having a little pinch every now and again," Bynum said. "That's what it is, where it's at. It's not like it's going to get any worse. So that's why I'm taking my time, getting myself strong, getting my wind back. I'm not rushing. I'm trying to keep myself in that mind-set, not wanting to get back and hurt myself."

broderick.turner@latimes.com

twitter.com/BA_Turner

Lakers tonight

vs. Indiana

When: 6:30.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 710, 1330.

Records: Lakers 13-3, Pacers 7-7

Record vs. Pacers (2009-10): 2-0.

Update: The Lakers have defeated the Pacers in three consecutive games and five out of six. At .500, the Pacers have been one of the surprise teams in the East. They won at Miami, beating the Heat by 16 points, and dropped 144 points in a rout of the Denver Nuggets. Danny Granger is their leading scorer at 22 points a game. Former UCLA guard Darren Collison averages 13.9 points and 4.4 assists.