Lakers Will Be Tested in Utah

The Lakers are about to enter Game 3 against Utah Jazz with a 2-0 lead, similar to their position last year when they lost Games 3 and 4. Last season the Lakers had a 2-0 series lead before the Jazz beat them twice in Salt Lake City. Andrew Bynum wasn’t able to fully participate in practice because of knee soreness, only contributing to the Lakers’ nerves. Bynum sitting out most of Wednesday’s practice was more a precautionary move than anything but after he was sidelined for 32 games because of a torn medial collateral ligament the Lakers can’t be too careful.

Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson told the L.A. Times that Bynum’s soreness might be because of the bulky brace he has been wearing since his return six weeks ago: “I don’t think it’s anything that the training staff thought was structural. Some of it’s due to [the] brace, wearing the brace and the inhibiting of the brace of the motions. I think it’s all capable of working out, but he did not work much on the court [Wednesday] at all.” Bynum will play tonight in Game 3 of the best-of-seven opening-round series.

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