Brown Is Investigated in Sexual Assault Case

Kwame Brown was in the starting lineup for the Lakers on Tuesday night, only hours after the Los Angeles Police Department announced that the 6-foot-11 center-forward was the focus of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault.

The alleged incident reportedly took place early Saturday morning, after the Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Staples Center in Game 3 of their opening-round NBA playoff series. The police department released no other details.

The 24-year-old Brown, traded to the Lakers from the Washington Wizards last summer, was not made available to reporters before Tuesday night’s Game 5 at Phoenix. Earlier, he made no comment upon arriving at US Airways Arena.

But in a statement released by the Lakers about 90 minutes before their 114-97 series-extending loss, Brown said, “I want to assure everyone that I am completely innocent of any wrongdoing and look forward to the truth coming out when this matter is fully investigated. However, on the advice of my attorney, I cannot comment further at this time.”

Brown’s attorney, Mike Brown, did not return phone calls.

Coach Phil Jackson told reporters before the game that he had met with Brown, who is the father of a 3-year-old daughter, and told him to concentrate on three priorities: “Basketball, basketball and family. That’s it.”

Jackson, though, did not want to comment further.

“What’s everybody here for? Come on now,” he said. “This is about a basketball game. We’re going to let this pass our way. We’re not even going to discuss it. As a basketball team, we’re going to focus on what we need to do.”

Jackson said that Brown, a key player in the Lakers’ late-season surge to the playoffs and surprisingly strong showing against the favored Suns, would “focus his way through this.” But, the coach acknowledged, “I’m sure it’s a distraction.”

Brown, taking advantage of the smaller Suns, averaged 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds during the first four games of the best-of-seven series, up from his regular-season averages of 7.4 points and 6.6 rebounds.

In Tuesday night’s game, after getting into early foul trouble, he finished with 14 points and three rebounds in 24 minutes.

The No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft, when he became the first high school player taken first overall, Brown played four mostly disappointing seasons with the Wizards, averaging 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds a season.

As a rookie, he chafed under Michael Jordan’s demands and during the playoffs last season was suspended by the Wizards for insubordination after grousing about his dwindling playing time. His suspension, after he had complained of a stomach illness and sat out a practice and a first-round playoff game against the Chicago Bulls, lasted seven games. He also was suspended for one game earlier last season after a clash with Wizard Coach Eddie Jordan.

Brown, traded for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins, was arrested twice while playing for the Wizards, in 2002 on suspicion of driving 120 mph and again in 2003 on suspicion of driving under the influence -- both on highways near his hometown of Brunswick, Ga.

Bresnahan reported from Phoenix, Crowe from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Jill Leovy contributed to this report.