Lakers’ Center Lamar Odom Plays Despite Pain

Lakers’ Center Lamar Odom played through his back pain during Game 5, managing 10 points and six rebounds, helping the Lakers beat the Hosuton Rockets 118-78. It was questionable whether Odom would come off the bench Monday after sustaining a bruised back during the third quarter of Game 4 Sunday night, but he stuck it out and the Lakers now have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series.

Odom told the L.A. Times, “I couldn’t really picture myself not playing in a Game 5,” but Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson wasn’t so sure, saying, “I just watched Lamar a little bit, about how he was moving and his reactions. [I watched] a little bit how he went through the warmups and after he got out there on the floor, I felt that he was pretty ginger still.” Jackson started Andrew Bynum in Odom’s place and he was given a shot before the game which “took some of the inflammation away.” Odom checked into Game 5 with 4:22 left and made his first shot, although he told the Times he was limited : “I really didn’t want to bang too much. If my man was on my back, I couldn’t really hold him out with my butt and go get those rebounds. My jumping was limited. I probably can’t slide as well. I hurt my back pretty good.” Odom will travel to Houston for Game 6 tomorrow night and will rest up before then.

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