Lakers' Bynum Out With the Flu
Andrew Bynum missed his first game of the season Tuesday night because of the stomach flu.
Andrew Bynum, averaging 10.9 points and 10.1 rebounds, didn't attend the team's shootaround earlier in the day because he went to the hospital to replenish his fluids.
Unable to get a taxi to Target Center because of too much snow, Andrew Bynum hitched a ride with the doctor. He stayed in the locker room during the game.
"That loss of fluids, that kind of thing you have to be careful and watch him," Coach Phil Jackson said.
Mihm Shines Under Duress
Though his troublesome ankle still bothers him, Chris Mihm was pressed into service Tuesday night, starting at center because Andrew Bynum was out and because Kwame Brown (sprained left ankle and knee) and Ronny Turiaf (concussion) were home.
Mihm was productive, collecting season highs in points (11) and minutes (32).
The inflammation grew so bad in Mihm's right ankle, the same one he twice had surgery while sidelined for all of last season, that he begged off from practice Monday.
"The last couple of weeks have been tough with all the games and practices," said Mihm, who was 5 for 9 from the field and had seven rebounds.
"I pumped a ton of medicine into my foot earlier yesterday, last night and this morning and took two treatments today," he added. "It felt a lot better, and I felt like I was able to move out there a whole lot better."
Limiting Fish's Minutes
Derek Fisher is in his 12th season, not the young player he was during his first eight years with the Lakers.
Now that he's back, Fisher's playing time has been limited to 26.4 minutes per game.
Jackson wants to keep Fisher fresh for the long haul of an 82-game season. His preference is to play both Fisher and Jordan Farmar and then see who's playing well so he can decide who plays at the end of the game.
"I'm using him the right way," Jackson said. "It's a long season. I should watch his minutes and make sure he doesn't get over 30. We're playing a lot of games right now. Big minutes will affect his shooting."
Jackson mentioned how back-to-back games last week against Denver and then at Utah affected Fisher's shooting.
Fisher was 4 for 6 from the field, including 2 for 2 from three-point range, against Denver, but he was 1 for 8 -- 1 for 5 on threes -- the next night against the Jazz.
Jackson said Fisher also may have been affected by the boos from the Utah crowd.
Fisher played one season with the Jazz before he was released from his contract so he could take care of his young daughter, Tatum, who had a malignant tumor in her left eye. Fisher chose to return to LA in large part because Tatum's able to get the best treatment there.
Fisher had seven points in 19 minutes Tuesday.
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