Avoiding Early Fouls a Key for Medvedenko

Slava Medvedenko stayed out of the referees’ way Wednesday night, played 23 minutes and repeatedly punished the Sacramento Kings for cheating off him to defend a posting Shaquille O’Neal or a penetrating Kobe Bryant.

Among the differences between the Lakers and Kings was at reserve power forward, where Medvedenko had 15 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes and Brad Miller had two points and seven rebounds in 27.

Miller often was saddled with defending O’Neal at center, on some nights enough to ruin the touch of any undersized man.

On Thursday, Medvedenko sported a gash high on his forehead.

“Miller,” he said, pointing.

In his fourth NBA season and given a significant chance to play when Karl Malone was injured in December, Medvedenko will play more minutes this season than in his first three combined. He has had his moments too. But, just as often, the fouls have come, and come early, limiting his playing time or aggressiveness.

“If I stay on the floor, I can do something,” he said.

Medvedenko will turn 25 next week.

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Bryant played Wednesday night without a pad or compression shirt to protect his sprained right shoulder, an injury he has said will take a summer of rest to heal.

The decision to shed those devices -- he’d worn them for going on three weeks -- was Bryant’s, trainer Gary Vitti said Thursday.

Asked why, Vitti shrugged and said, “Superman.”

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Gary Payton, suffering recently from a sore right knee and back, practiced only lightly Thursday. Rick Fox also has a sore knee. Both are expected to play tonight. “It’s going to be sore,” Payton said, “so it doesn’t matter.” ... Jamal Sampson, who had surgery on his right foot, is out of his cast.

TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 48-23, Timberwolves 49-23.

Record vs. Timberwolves -- 0-3.

Update -- The Timberwolves play for their first season sweep of the Lakers and to maintain home-court advantage in a possible playoff series against the Lakers. Since Feb. 29, the Timberwolves are 6-7. They beat the Lakers, 96-86, in Minneapolis on March 12, the night Malone came off the injured list. The Timberwolves are 14-1 when Ervin Johnson plays at least 20 minutes, perhaps why he has made three consecutive starts at center and why Michael Olowokandi has become his backup. When Olowokandi starts, the Timberwolves are 13-12.