Bynum could return before playoffs

Mar 20, 2008 - 4:26 PM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The outlook for injured Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum apparently has improved virtually overnight.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday that Bynum, who has been sidelined for more than two months with a knee injury, could return two weeks from Sunday.

That would give Bynum, the Lakers' fourth-leading scorer, six games to get ready for the start of the playoffs. The regular season concludes April 15.

On Tuesday, however, Lakers coach Phil Jackson told the Times that Bynum would be out for the remainder of the regular season.

"I threw that out there to kind of take everything off the table," Jackson said. "We're (now) saying it was three weeks as of (last) Sunday."

Bynum, who is averaging 13.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, suffered the injury against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 13.

The Lakers (46-21) are tied with the New Orleans Hornets for the best record in the Western Conference.