News is not good on Ariza

The Lakers continue to monitor their injured players, receiving positive updates (Chris Mihm), negative ones (Trevor Ariza) and some that are in between (Andrew Bynum).

Bynum is still jogging in a swimming pool and also working out on an elliptical machine, but he has not tested his injured left knee on a treadmill, though that could come next week, a team source said.

The Lakers do not have an updated target date for his return, but Bynum is out until at least early April. He has missed 25 games so far because of a deep bone bruise in the knee and a brief dislocation in the kneecap.

Ariza hoped to get out of a walking boot earlier this week, but the broken bone in his right foot hadn’t healed enough, a reality that Coach Phil Jackson called “a disappointment for us.”

A key member of the second unit after being acquired from Orlando, Ariza probably will not return before the end of the regular season, four weeks beyond the original forecast for his return. (The Lakers’ last game of the regular season is April 15.) He has missed 23 games since sustaining the injury in a Jan. 20 practice.

Backup center Mihm has begun jogging on the court less than three weeks after having a screw removed from his surgically repaired right heel. He hoped to be back in time to play in April, which would be about right for the original six-week timetable.

“There was a tension and a painful pressure in the back of my heel, but it hasn’t been there since that screw was removed,” Mihm said. “I’m doing stuff already that was driving me up a wall four or six weeks ago.”

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There’s also that other injured guy, the one who keeps playing.

Kobe Bryant hasn’t missed any games because of a torn ligament in his right pinkie, but that doesn’t stop him from calling it the “most aggravating” injury he has ever had.

He is constantly reminded of it, whether the pinkie gets smacked in a game or caught while buttoning a shirt at home. “Every day,” he said. “But you get used to it. When it’s painful, you just know that it can’t get any worse. It’s just pain and it’ll go away after a minute or so.”

Bryant has been on a tear lately, averaging 39.7 points and shooting a respectable 48.1% in his last three games. He also has developed a strategy when his finger gets hit during games. “I’ll keep my hand out of a play or two and I’ll kind of move my fingers around, try to just kind of wait for the pain to subside a little bit,” he said.

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Oh yeah, the Clippers.

The Lakers have had other things on their minds -- namely the top teams in the Western Conference -- but they could achieve a small feat tonight in a designated home game against their friends down the hallway at Staples Center.

The Lakers were 31-5 against the Clippers from 1995 to 2004, but managed to only tie the season series the last three seasons. With a 2-0 edge in 2007-08, the Lakers could make the season series theirs tonight, even though they seem more concerned about the bigger picture.

“I’m even surprised you asked that question,” forward Lamar Odom said. “We’re trying to fight to stay on top of the Western Conference. The ‘Battle of L.A.’ will come second to that. We’re trying to play for a playoff position, and position ourselves for home-court advantage.”

The Clippers (20-39) have endured an entire season without Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston. Their record has suffered, as have any playoff hopes.

“We had the injury bug last year. This year, it seems to be on their shoulders,” Jackson said.

CLIPPERS-LAKERS TONIGHT

7:30, FSN West, Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570; 1330; 710.

Records -- Lakers 43-18; Clippers 20-39.

Record vs. Clippers -- 2-0.

Update -- The Lakers emerged from a close first half to beat the Clippers, 113-95, on Feb. 23. Lamar Odom had 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers also beat the Clippers in December, 113-92, with Kobe Bryant scoring 32 points on 11-for-22 shooting.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com