Turiaf afflicted by spasms

MINNEAPOLIS — As if the Lakers needed this.

Ronny Turiaf became their latest frontcourt player to fall prey to an injury, leaving Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of back spasms.

He had eight points and three rebounds in only six minutes of playing time but did not return after getting fouled by center Mark Blount on a layup attempt with 8 minutes 25 seconds to play in the second quarter. He is listed as day to day.

Turiaf had been playing better since Kwame Brown’s return allowed him to play more at power forward, his natural position. He had eight points and four rebounds in 16 minutes Sunday against Phoenix.

“He kind of limped out of here, didn’t he, when he walked by,” Coach Phil Jackson said outside the locker room after the Lakers’ 117-107 double-overtime loss to Minnesota.

“He was hurt right away when it happened. He tweaked it right away, getting fouled on that play.”

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The new target date for injured forward Luke Walton to return appears to be March 15 against Denver.

Walton was ruled out for the rest of the Lakers’ road trip because of a sprained right ankle that has also been racked by tendinitis.

Walton also will not return for the Lakers’ next home game, Sunday against Dallas, Jackson said. After that, the Lakers potentially have three days of practice before playing the Nuggets.

“He just needs some R&R;,” Jackson said. “He’s [been] pushing, pushing, pushing, trying to get back into the lineup.”

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A play involving Kobe Bryant late in the fourth quarter Tuesday was reminiscent of the play that earned him a one-game suspension in late January.

After getting his shot blocked by guard Marko Jaric, Bryant flailed his arms and caught Jaric in the face with 58.7 seconds left in regulation. Bryant was called for a foul on the play.

Bryant struck San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili in the face in similar fashion with two-tenths of a second left in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 96-94 overtime loss Jan. 28 against the Spurs.

Bryant was not called for a foul on that play, but was suspended for the Lakers’ next game.

Bryant was suspended for what league disciplinarian Stu Jackson called driving “a stiff arm backward.”

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TONIGHT

at Milwaukee, 5, Ch. 9

Site -- Bradley Center.

Radio -- 570; 1330.

Records -- Lakers 33-28; Bucks 22-39.

Record vs. Bucks -- 0-1.

Update -- Michael Redd torched the Lakers for 45 points in the Bucks’ 109-105 victory in November. The Bucks have lost nine of their last 12 games.

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