LAKERS NOTEBOOK: WALTON OUT WITH INJURY.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

HONOLULU - For the second consecutive October, Lakers forward Luke Walton is facing an early season setback, this time after suffering a severe hamstring strain with three minutes left in Tuesday night's exhibition opener against Golden State.

Walton, who struggled to find a place in then-coach Rudy Tomjanovich's rotation last season after spraining his ankle in training camp, is expected to be sidelined two to six weeks. If he is out six weeks, Walton could miss 10 regular-season games.

Playing in the backcourt, Walton went to take a return pass from Brian Cook off a back-door cut when he came up limping and grabbing the back of his leg. Walton said afterward he never has had a hamstring injury before in his career.

``Last year didn't really work out for me very well,'' Walton said. ``I'm going to take it a day at a time rehabbing it. I'm not going to come back early. I don't want this thing to linger. Whenever I can get back out there, I guess that's when I'll start trying to make up lost time.''

After re-signing with the Lakers this summer, Walton was expected to be a primary player off the bench for coach Phil Jackson. His injury underscores the Lakers' lack of depth, with a bench that probably ranks in the bottom third of the NBA right now.

Walton's value comes in his ability to play multiple positions, complemented by his passing skills. When he suffered the injury, Walton was directing the triangle offense, much as a guard would, one of the many roles Jackson envisions for him.

``I would think I made a lot of progress this whole offseason,'' Walton said, ``which is kind of why it's so frustrating to get hurt in the first game. ... It's just going to be a slower start for me.''

--Mixed results: The Lakers were left trying to figure out what to make of their 101-93 victory over Golden State, a game in which their starters were steamrolled in the opening eight minutes, falling behind 24-8 and giving up a 14-0 run at one point.

The starting five, with Smush Parker in the backcourt, recovered and outscored the Warriors 17-10 to start the second half. Jackson said before the game that he would try different players as starters during the preseason.

The Lakers looked every bit like a team trying to play together after only 12 practices while Golden State looked like the team that went 18-10 after acquiring guard Baron Davis (UCLA) last season. Both teams finished with identical 34-48 records a year ago.

Kobe Bryant forced the issue in the second quarter, scoring 16 of the Lakers' 32 points, and finished with a game-high 28. Bryant frequently posted up Warriors guard Jason Richardson, once spinning past him on the baseline before a spectacular reverse dunk.

Lamar Odom, playing in the backcourt as expected, added 16 points and scored nine in the last 2:10. Odom was stripped once by Davis in the first quarter but excelled in the fourth, driving to the basket one possession and posting up on another.

``One thing about the triangle,'' Odom said, ``you can learn the offense - where you're supposed to go, where you're supposed to cut - but learning how to catch the ball in striking position, that's another thing. You have to learn where to find your aggressive spots.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com