LAKERS NOTEBOOK: BATTLE IS BREWING AT POWER FORWARD.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO - Slava Medvedenko and Samaki Walker took turns auditioning for Robert Horry's job Friday while Horry watched in street clothes. With 10 days to go until opening night, Lakers coach Phil Jackson is as noncommital as ever about who he'll start next to Shaquille O'Neal.

Horry, who got the night off, remains the probable starting power forward. But Jackson won't remove the ``probable'' tag, and he's giving the young prospects every chance to claim the job.

Medvedenko started his second consecutive game as the Lakers played the Phoenix Suns at the San Diego Sports Arena. Kobe Bryant scored 25 points in the Lakers' 112-101 loss to the Suns. O'Neal played 21 minutes and finished with 17 points and six rebounds.

``I thought all our power forwards struggled like crazy tonight,'' Jackson said.

The game began a string of five exhibitions in eight days, a span that likely will settle the Lakers' outstanding questions, none more pressing than the power-forward decision.

Medvedenko, who's had a year in Jackson's system, has been impressive of late, while Walker continues to adjust to the offense.

``We'll see, we'll work with them,'' Jackson said. ``Obviously, our intent is we'd like to have a young guy that gets some experience and can train for the future.''

Horry would welcome a return to the starting lineup - he held the job throughout the 1997-98 season and part of 1999 - but wouldn't mind seeing one of the prospects step up either.

``If it happens, yes. But if it doesn't, I'll be prepared for if I have to start,'' he said. ``We have so many guys, you can do it by committee. ... I think it'd feel funny to start, because I haven't done it in so long.''

In Horry's estimation, the only other forward ready to start at this point is former Chicago Bull Dickey Simpkins. Medvedenko has also shown he's comfortable in the offense, ``to some degree,'' Horry said.

Walker, who was signed this summer to replace Horace Grant, is looking forward to proving himself worthy of the starting job over the next several games.

``Two weeks is a lot of time,'' he said. ``I feel that right now Rob knows the system, so he definitely understands the system a lot better than I do. ... I'm not trying to rush myself, I'm trying to learn at a pace where I feel that I can be able to help this team.''

Jackson also gave veteran Mitch Richmond the night off. Richmond and Horry are expected to be in uniform tonight.

--Technical difficulties: The Lakers' loyalty to the decrepit San Diego Sports Arena as an annual exhibition game venue was severely tested Friday.

The Suns canceled their morning shootaround after discovering the playing court was unsound and possibly unsafe. The teams briefly considered canceling the game, but the problem was fixed by the afternoon.

Also, the first quarter was played without the benefit of a shot clock. The clock malfunctioned three times in the first minute and a half and remained frozen at 1 second for the duration of the period.