LAKERS NOTEBOOK: BRYANT HAS MORE ON ARENAS.

Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS -- As it turned out, the final word on Gilbert Arenas' 60-point game was not written when the final horn sounded Dec. 17 at Staples Center and the Washington Wizards guard bowed twice to the crowd before leaving the floor.

That was before Kobe Bryant had the chance to weigh in on Arenas' career night, which came in the Wizards' 147-141 overtime victory, with comments that seemed less than complimentary at the time.

Arenas joined Wilt Chamberlain that night as the only players ever to score 60 points against the Lakers. Yet Bryant questioned whether Arenas had a ``conscience'' in shooting, words that will hang over their return engagement tonight in Washington.

Bryant said Thursday he in no way was trying to slight Arenas, who set an NBA record by scoring 16 points in overtime while matched up against the Lakers' superstar guard.

``That was somebody who just didn't understand the game of basketball and took that and misinterpreted that,'' Bryant said. ``Because when I said that, that was a high compliment because there's not too many players around the league that can have that type of explosiveness.

``So when you say a player doesn't have a conscience, you mean that with the utmost of respect. That means they can go out there and have the confidence to put the ball up and get hot. But they chose to write it and interpret it in a wrong way and they went and ran with it.''

What Bryant said in the aftermath of Arenas' 60-point game didn't seem to leave much room for interpretation.

``It's funny, he doesn't really seem to have much of a conscience,'' Bryant said then. ``I really don't think he does. Some of the shots that he took tonight, if you miss those, they're just terrible shots.

``If you make them, then they're unbelievable shots.''

Bryant said a ``mutual respect'' exists between the two, although Arenas did claim that he started yelling ``quality shots'' on his jumpers after hearing Bryant's words.

``Everything I hear about him and understand about him is that he's a really hard worker,'' Bryant said. ``He puts the time in the gym, much like myself. You can't help but have respect for a player like that. So for somebody to try to create something that's a rift or something like that, just a made-up rift, is a bunch of b.s.''

Bryant added that he likely will ask to guard Arenas again, as he did late in the fourth quarter and overtime Dec. 17.

``I'm sure I'll be on him a little bit,'' Bryant said. ``That's one of the things that was puzzling to me. After the game, it was like, `Gilbert gives Kobe 60.' I didn't even guard Gilbert until overtime. ... It's pretty silly to me. But that's how it goes, that's how it is.''

For his part, Bryant had 45points against the Wizards. They were the first opposing players to score 60 points and 45 points in the same game in 44years since Wilt Chamberlain (63) and Elgin Baylor (51) did so in December 1962.

Injury update: Forward Luke Walton worked out before Friday's game and said he was hopeful to play Monday. Walton wants to practice at least once before he returns from his sprained ankle.

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- Ross Siler