Payton Won’t Ease Up

On Wednesday, Laker guard Gary Payton and his good friend, Sam Cassell, had plans to get some lunch, hang out at Payton’s house in the San Fernando Valley and shoot pool into the evening.

Tonight, Payton will try to push Cassell and his Minnesota Timberwolves a game closer to elimination from the NBA playoffs, in particular by punishing Cassell’s sore lower back.

All’s fair in May and June.

Because of his injury, Cassell has played only 27 minutes since the start of the fourth quarter of Game 1. He played as long and as well as he could in Game 3, but finally retired 1:12 into the final quarter. In the next six minutes, the Lakers extended their lead from eight points to 17.

“If I was hurt and he was healthy, he would want to get me out of there,” Payton said. “We’ve just got to keep grinding on him. I think his injury is really bothering him. I’ve never seen him play this way. If we can get an advantage and go to the next series, that’s what we want to do.

“It always feels bad ... but he understands. I would understand too. It’s just for our team. We’re trying to move on. We’re trying to win a championship.... I feel bad for him because he’s not at full strength, not the way he wants to be. I’d rather he be at full strength and whoever wins, wins.”

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Kobe Bryant, on his friend and neighbor Karl Malone: “He’s probably the one I kid around with the most, because he likes to wear tight shirts and tight shorts, stuff that you can get away with wearing in the country but can’t necessarily get away with wearing here.”

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Devean George, in two games in his hometown of Minneapolis: two for 11 from the floor, one for seven from behind the three-point arc, 0 for 2 from the free-throw line, 2.5-point average.

Devean George, in the rest of the playoff cities: 24 for 43 from the floor, 16 for 29 from behind the arc, 11 for 14 from the line, 5.3-point average.

George said it is possible he simply wants to play well in front of his friends and family.

“That’s the only thing I can think of,” he said.

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The Lakers’ victory in Game 3 was the highest-rated NBA playoff game ever on cable.

The game was seen in 6 million households, second only to the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, which was watched in 7.1 million households.

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Kareem Rush suffered a broken tooth and a sprained jaw in a collision with Latrell Sprewell in Game 3.... Clipper Elton Brand was chosen to the NBA’s All-Interview first team. Lakers Malone, Rick Fox and Shaquille O’Neal are on the second team. Malone has been first or second team 17 consecutive years.... In order to benefit the Los Angeles Laker Youth Foundation, the Lakers will auction their autographed 2002 throw-back “MPLS” jerseys and warm-up suits through today. To register, call 1-800-350-2273 or go to www.sportscardsplus.com.