LAKERS NOTEBOOK: MIFFED BY LONG REST.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Gary Payton, renowned for his quick tongue, sharp wit and nonstop chatter, went silent late Monday night as the Lakers fell hopelessly behind the Memphis Grizzlies. Payton sat helplessly on the bench. For 13 and a half minutes.

The feisty veteran, acquired this summer to infuse life in a moribund defense, was pulled (along with most of the lineup) with 6:41 to go in the third quarter. He did not return until the 5:04 mark of the fourth. He spent the time sitting, silently, declining to talk to teammates.

It was unfamiliar territory for the nine-time All-Star, and he clearly was unhappy with it.

``You've got to ask Phil (Jackson) for that. I got nothing to do with that,'' Payton, his eyes watery, said afterward. ``You ask the coach about that.''

Payton added: ``It is always tough when it's different. It's different. So I got to deal with it. I'll see what's going on, whatever.''

Payton had turned his left ankle Sunday, but it did not appear to be a problem.

``I'm fine,'' he said. ``Whatever decision he's making, he's making. I don't need to talk to nobody. I'm cool.''

Payton and Karl Malone, who arrived in tandem this summer, were the last two sitting in the locker room after teammates already had boarded the bus. Jackson walked over to speak with both after the room cleared of reporters.

--Mending: Slava Medvedenko took part in the morning shootaround and could make his season debut as soon as Wednesday, when the Toronto Raptors come to Staples Center. Medvedenko has not played since bruising his left heel in an exhibition game Oct. 19.

``I'm pleased to announce that he's making progress,'' Jackson said. ``I was almost to the point of giving up and going ahead and activating (Jamal) Sampson.''

--Thanks: Antonio Franklin, a native of Memphis, Tenn., and U.S. Naval officer who served in the war on Iraq, attended Monday's game as a guest of Shaquille O'Neal. The two were e-mail pen pals during the war, as part of an ESPN promotion.

Franklin, who was stationed in Doha, Qatar, with U.S. Central Command during his six-month tour, chatted with O'Neal before the game. O'Neal walked away proudly wearing a blue ``U.S. Navy'' hat and holding a photo book of sights in Qatar.

``It was fun,'' O'Neal said. ``He gave me a book from where he was stationed, he gave me some money, gave me a couple coins. I'll take this back to the crib.''

Asked if Franklin shared any stories, O'Neal said: ``No. It's all classified. G-4 classified.''

--Also: Payton is teaching Kobe Bryant how to play dominoes, his game of choice for long plane rides. Bryant, of course, is teaching the elder Payton how to play the triangle offense. So who will learn their new art first? ``He gets dominoes,'' Payton said with a laugh. ... Bryant must appear in a Colorado court room Thursday morning. Jackson said he did not know if he would play in Wednesday's game.

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GARY PAYTON

Point guard took benching over lengthy period of time in loss against Memphis hard.