Minor injuries add up to a semi-major impact on Lakers

The injury bug stayed away from the Lakers a year ago, leaving them alone on their path to a 15th NBA championship.

Kobe Bryant played all 82 regular-season games, as did Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza. Pau Gasol missed one game. Lamar Odom missed four.

Andrew Bynum’s knee was their only injury of note, keeping him out of 32 games, but it’s been a different story this season.

Gasol has already missed 17 games because of hamstring injuries. Ron Artest missed five games because of a concussion. Bynum has missed three games and Bryant has now missed two games because of a sprained left ankle.

The Lakers are getting nickel-and-dimed by injuries, a five-gamer here, a 10-gamer there.

“When it rains, it pours,” Odom said. “With all the games we play and how much we practice, it’s kind of bound to happen. It’s just when and who it happens to.”

Bryant and Bynum sat out Monday against San Antonio, forcing Odom and Shannon Brown into the starting lineup.

“We’re lucky and fortunate enough to have guys that have the ability to step in and hold the ship afloat for a little while until some of our key guys get back,” Odom said.

Bynum had been troubled by a swollen left knee, but a bruised right hip remained a problem Monday. He said he would not play Wednesday at Utah. Bryant will decide over the next two days whether he can play in Utah.

Bynum injured his hip when he fell in the first quarter of Saturday’s game at Portland. He limped through the rest of the first half, but didn’t play in the second half and was still limping when he arrived Monday at Staples Center.

“It’s just, like, swollen,” he said. “When you walk or when you run, it’s inflamed. It’s going to take a little bit of time, probably a week.”

With the All-Star break this weekend, Bynum will have had nine days of rest before the Lakers play next Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors.

Lamar the star

Buried amid the cavalcade of Super Bowl commercials was an appearance by . . . Odom?

Yes, the Lakers forward popped up briefly in a Taco Bell spot, saying one line, “There is lots and lots in just one box,” a reference to a value meal offered in a box.

Odom filmed the commercial in Long Beach the day before the Lakers embarked on their eight-game trip three weeks ago.

Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings wrote on his Twitter account Sunday that Odom got the spot for one reason: because of his new wife, reality TV star Khloe Kardashian.

“Brandon Jennings tweeted that I should thank Khloe because she got me that commercial,” Odom said, pausing for effect, perhaps because he was angry. “And I was just thinking . . . she probably did. Maybe it’s the company we keep,” he said, smiling.

Odom was asked to be in the commercial a week before shooting it. He said it went without incident, with few retakes.

Odom has also appeared in episodes of “Entourage” and “Arli$$.”

Times staff writer Broderick Turner contributed to this report.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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