Lakers' Mihm sidelined 3-4 weeks

Jan 3, 2008 - 8:00 PM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Lakers center Chris Mihm is expected to miss three to four weeks with a sore right Achilles' heel, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

According to the newspaper, Mihm will undergo weekly treatments on the heel, which has been affected by bursitis and inflammation.

Mihm is averaging only 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, the lowest numbers of his seven-year career.

He has tried to play through the problem but decided the best course of action was to take the time off. The 7-footer has played in only 19 games this season, including just three since recording 11 points and seven rebounds against Minnesota on December 4.

"It's been something I've been trying to avoid," he told the Times. "We've pretty much exhausted every avenue to try and be able to speed the recovery on my Achilles while still playing."

Mihm's absence leaves the Lakers with Kwame Brown and Andrew Bynum at center.

Brown returned to the Lakers' lineup on Friday after missing 19 games with knee and ankle sprains. He has played in nine contests this season, averaging 5.3 points and 4.4 rebounds.

"With Kwame being out the last four of five weeks, I wanted to stay active," Mihm said. "Now with Kwame back and healthy, timing-wise it was a good opportunity here to try and do this."

In July, Mihm signed a two-year contract extension with the Lakers worth $5 million.

The Lakers also will be without forward Lamar Odom for Friday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Odom will serve a one-game suspension for a flagrant foul after slamming into Boston's Ray Allen in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 110-91 loss to the Celtics.

At 19-11, the Lakers are in second place in the Pacific Division, 2 1/2 games behind the Phoenix Suns.