Bynum has a happy birthday

LAS VEGAS -- Andrew Bynum walked casually through the locker room exit, unaware of what awaited him on the other side.

Half a dozen Laker Girls held out a cake and sang to him for his 20th birthday as he diffidently stuck his hands in his pockets and accepted the balloons that were cheerfully handed to him.

He then continued the party on the court Friday against the Sacramento Kings, a night of celebration for the Lakers in an otherwise herky-jerky exhibition season that ended with a 101-97 victory over Sacramento.

Many of the big names didn’t play at Thomas & Mack Center -- Kobe Bryant (sore right wrist) and Lamar Odom (sore left shoulder) sat out for the Lakers, and Mike Bibby (torn thumb ligament) sat out for Sacramento -- but Bynum put on his own show, scoring 18 points on seven-for-10 shooting and taking seven rebounds in 23 minutes.

It was easily his best effort of the exhibition season, and it came primarily against veterans Mikki Moore and Shareef Abdur-Rahim, including an array of scores via spin moves and alley-oop dunks. Late in the third quarter, he dunked Luke Walton’s lob pass over Francisco Garcia, bringing the Lakers’ bench to its feet.

Last year, he received only a cupcake with a single candle on it for his birthday before an exhibition game.

Friday, he wanted to have his cake and talk about it too.

He wanted to field questions from the media while cutting his cake. That wish wasn’t granted -- the cake had been stored in the training room, off limits to reporters -- but Bynum was nonetheless pleased with his play.

“I made myself available for my teammates,” he said. “They looked for me. I’m going to have a great birthday.”

It was reminiscent of the way Bynum finished last exhibition season, making 17 of 21 shots against Phoenix and Denver before opening up the regular season with inspired play.

Coach Phil Jackson was, however, quick to point out that Bynum still has work to do.

“On the offensive end, I expect that,” he said. “On the defensive end, I expect a little more. That’s where he’s got to pick that up a little bit. We got outrebounded tonight, and there was a lot of penetration.”

The Lakers finished 3-4 in exhibition play after an up-and-down few weeks that included Jerry Buss’ surprising comments, Bryant’s unsettling three-day absence from practice and Odom’s nagging shoulder injury. Not to mention an ineffective first unit that is still seeking a center.

It ended with a loose style of play against the Kings.

“I think they enjoyed themselves tonight,” Jackson said. “I think they liked moving the ball. I think they felt good about that.”

Although final cuts are Monday, undrafted rookie Coby Karl is expected to make the team, meaning the Lakers will carry a full 15-player squad.

Karl, who played at Boise State and survived two battles with a treatable form of cancer, will make the league minimum of about $400,000, although his full salary does not become guaranteed until January.

Jackson would not commit either way, implying only that Karl would still be around next week.

“We like Coby Karl,” Jackson said. “He played well [Friday] too.”

Karl had 10 points in 16 minutes, making two of three three-point attempts.

Jackson will soon ditch the cane he has used since his second hip-replacement surgery four months ago. “I had a goal to get off this cane by the beginning of the season,” he said. “I think I may be able to do it. The cane is day to day.” . . . Maurice Evans did not play Friday because of a strained left hamstring. He is expected to play in the season opener Tuesday against Houston at Staples Center.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com