Bynum, Barnes, Blake, Artest updates

Andrew Bynum practiced today with his teammates and reported only minor pain in his bruised right knee. If he suffers no setbacks in Saturday’s workout, he’s likely to play in Game 1 of the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Hornets on Sunday.

Matt Barnes did not practice because of soreness in his surgically-repaired right knee. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he would list Barnes as probable to play in Game 1. Barnes sat out the last two games after waking up with pain in his knee Sunday night.

Jackson said he paid a visit Thursday night to Steve Blake, who has chicken pox. Jackson delivered a DVD, so Blake could stay up with what the Lakers are watching. Jackson reported Blake “looks very speckled. He has a lot of poxes on him.”

Blake won’t play in Game 1, but Jackson held hope that he could play in Game 2.

Also, Ron Artest did not practice after hyperextending a knee Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings. Artest’s status for Sunday wasn’t immediately clear. Jackson said he hoped the veteran small forward would be ready to play against the Hornets.