Mihm Told He’s Out at Least Four More Weeks

Chris Mihm limped over to the treadmill and gingerly stepped onto it before the belt began to move, ever so slowly, never accelerating past a walk.

The Laker center, sidelined since severely spraining his right foot March 12, has been undergoing therapy and treatment to try to return before the regular season ends April 19.

He was told he was still four to five weeks away from healing, he said Thursday, with the results of a recent MRI exam continuing to linger in his mind. There were no broken bones, but ...

“The MRI showed I had pretty much torn everything I could in there without dislocating the ankle,” he said.

Mihm was averaging 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds. He had become possibly the Lakers’ third-best player, and certainly one of their most consistent. His goal now is to beat the calendar.

“I’ve worked too long and too hard to have this end my season,” he said.

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Since a fast-food promotion began in February, the Lakers have held six of 12 opponents below 90 points, allowing fans at those games to take home a voucher for two free tacos.

The Lakers had not held an opponent below 90 until the promotion began.

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Von Wafer’s stay with the Lakers probably will be brief. He was called up because of a 12-day break in the schedule for the Fort Worth (Texas) Flyers of the NBA’s Development League. He is expected to be sent back to the Flyers before they resume play April 1.

Wafer, who averaged eight points on 33.3% shooting in eight games with the Flyers, acknowledged he took “a lot of bad shots.”

“I just forced the issue a little bit, tried to make it happen,” he said.

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Sasha Vujacic suffered a mildly sprained ankle during Thursday’s practice. He is questionable tonight against Milwaukee.... Lamar Odom has made 54.7% of his shots (117 of 214) since the All-Star break, tied for third in the league.... Don’t tell Kobe Bryant the cliche that every game is like a playoff game from here. “They don’t know what a playoff atmosphere even is,” he said Thursday, nodding in the direction of some of the younger Laker players.

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TONIGHT

vs. Milwaukee, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 36-34, Bucks 34-34.

Record vs. Bucks -- 1-0.

Update -- Like the Lakers, the Bucks are in seventh place in their conference. The Bucks had won four of five before losing Wednesday in Seattle, 114-105.