MINUTES MOUNTING FOR KOBE.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

The only thing that has rivaled the point totals Kobe Bryant has put up in recent games has been the number of minutes the superstar guard has played.

Bryant came into Thursday night have played 45, 45 and 44 minutes in the Lakers' three previous games and is averaging 40.5 minutes this season, sixth most in the NBA.

There have been superb performances by Bryant in the second half of games this season - a franchise-record 30 points in the third quarter against Dallas, an improbable 40 points in the second half against the Clippers.

But Bryant seemed to wear down in the Lakers' past two games against Indiana and Portland. He missed four free throws in the fourth quarter of the victory over the Pacers and went 3 of 11 from the field in fourth quarter of the loss to the Trail Blazers.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he is trying to measure out Bryant's minutes, factoring in things like the longer timeouts in national television games such as Thursday's. Jackson suggested Bryant probably should be playing between 36 and 42 minutes most nights.

Jackson also referred to the likes of John Havlicek and other players of that era when asked earlier in the week about Bryant playing the entire second half against the Clippers and Pacers. Havlicek once averaged 45 minutes per game in back-to-back seasons.

``I don't think they would ever need to have rest in this day and age of the game,'' Jackson said, ``with the amount of timeouts we have and the length of the timeouts.''

--Good advice: Bryant said he could remember his words to forward Ronny Turiaf back in July, the same morning Turiaf met with reporters to talk about the open heart surgery he would need.

``I told him, 'This will pass,' '' Bryant said. `` 'I know it seems like it's tough right now. But it will all be a memory, just like that.' ''

Turiaf, who returned Thursday to Spokane, Wash., now is poised to rejoin the Lakers only six months after undergoing surgery.

``What I've heard about him is he can really help us out just from the energy that he brings and how hard he plays,'' Bryant said. ``He's a tough-minded kid.''

The Lakers need to make a roster move to accommodate signing Turiaf. They likely will reach an injury settlement and waive either forward Slava Medvedenko or guard Laron Profit, neither of whom is likely to play again this season.

``It's not fair, it's not fun,'' Jackson said, ``but it's not difficult because we have two players that look like their seasons are over for us.''

Medvedenko underwent surgery Thursday to repair the herniated disc in his back. The Lakers said he will need three to four months to recover.

--High praise: Devin Green might not be a familiar name to most Lakers fans, but it is to Cleveland star LeBron James. The rookie forward was born in Akron, Ohio, the same city as James.

``He's a very talented player,'' James said. ``He's not getting a good opportunity to play right now but he's going to keep working hard and trying to get better. I'm just happy to see another guy from Akron playing in the NBA.

``He's going to help somebody, whether it's the Lakers or someone else.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- ran in Final edition only) Lakers star in averaging 40.5 minutes this season, sixth-most in the NBA.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(2) KOBE BRYANT

Lakers star is averaging 40.5 minutes this season, sixth-most in the NBA.