Rest is best for several injured Lakers

Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said Phil Jackson's complaining is predictable.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The injuries are mounting for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fortunately, they have some time to heal before their playoff series with the Houston Rockets resumes Friday night.
Slava Medvedenko was the latest player to go down, straining his right Achilles' tendon late in the second quarter of Monday night's 98-84 victory over the Rockets and sitting out the second half.
With Horace Grant sidelined due to an injured hip, Medvedenko has become an important part of the Lakers' rotation, backing up Shaquille O'Neal at center and Karl Malone at power forward.
Coach concerned
"He's no better today, that's a concern to us," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Tuesday at the team's training facility in El Segundo. "Achilles are injuries you really have to be careful with."
Fortunately, the Lakers have a 2-0 lead over the Rockets and some time off. Neither team practiced Tuesday, but the Lakers' training room was awfully crowded as Medvedenko, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Devean George came in for treatment.
Fisher, Fox, George and Karl Malone all played in the first two games despite injuries sustained late in the season. Malone has been getting treatment for a sprained ankle.
Jackson said he expects the Rockets to play better in Games 3 and 4 at home, as teams usually do.
"We've held serve, that's all we've done," Jackson said.
Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy erupted before Game 2 to Jackson's criticism of the officiating in the opener.
"I don't even have to look at the calendar to know it's spring coming on summer with Phil's complaining about the officiating," Van Gundy said. "It's like a rite of passage every spring.
"It's interesting. His team shoots more free throws, I'm going to guess, 80 percent in his career. But it's always, 'The Lakers, always getting screwed."'
Van Gundy said a lot more, talking about several Lakers and their physical nature. He also referred to Fisher as a flopper.
Jackson said Van Gundy's remarks didn't surprise him.
"It's typical of Jeff to make those comments," Jackson said. "I try not to take the bait -- he throws it out there."
Regarding the officials, Fisher said: "They actually thought I was joking around, trying to get a call on that. My nose didn't see it that way."
Fisher said the groin injury that cropped up in the final regular-season game is last on the list of bumps and bruises.
He said he caught a knee in the buttocks and sustained a bruised thigh Monday night.
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