Lakers' Andrew Bynum is not a factor again

He was benched Saturday in Game 4 primarily because of his paltry averages through three games: seven points, three rebounds and four fouls. Lamar Odom was inserted into the starting lineup, next to Pau Gasol in the frontcourt.

Bynum had two points, one rebound and two fouls in seven minutes of Game 4. It was the second consecutive game in which he played only seven minutes.

"It didn't bother me that I didn't start," Bynum said. "It bothered me that I didn't play."

He checked into Game 4 with 5:07 left in the first quarter. He traveled on an awkward-looking possession but then pump-faked Paul Millsap into the air and dunked after a nice feed from Luke Walton. Other than that, it was another quiet night.

"I just was going to do it by my intuition, which you have to do," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said of Bynum's reduced role.

Bynum could return to the starting lineup in the Western Conference semifinals, assuming the Lakers advance to play Portland or Houston. The Trail Blazers have two physical centers, starter Joel Przybilla and backup Greg Oden. Houston has perennial All-Star Yao Ming at center.

Bynum didn't know when he would get his game back.

"You got to play to get it back," Bynum said. "Over the last three, four games, I think I've only played like a combined 30 minutes. That's not really enough to get your stuff back together."

Bynum said Jackson had not talked to him about the demotion.

"Nothing," Bynum said. "One time I was told I was going in and I didn't go. I don't know. I just didn't get in the game."

Ariza's ankle

Forward Trevor Ariza suffered a sprained right ankle after stepping on teammate Josh Powell's foot during warmups.

Ariza then aggravated the ankle injury in the first quarter and went to the locker room to get it checked. He returned past the midpoint of the second quarter but appeared to be favoring it.

After going scoreless through three quarters, he looked better in the fourth quarter, making both of his shots and getting two steals.

He finished with five points in almost 28 minutes.

"It took a little while for it to loosen up and feel all the way right," Ariza said.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

broderick.turner@latimes.com