Jonathan Abrams/LA Times:
As the Lakers wrapped up their final practice before Sunday's first-round playoff game against the Denver Nuggets, Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza sat together on a large medicine ball.

Sunday and throughout the first round, the injured pair figure to be sharing a spot on the bench.

The odds of Bynum returning for the series from his knee injury were already small and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson ruled him out.

"I'd say it's fair to say that," Jackson said today. "

No surprise here. I wasn't expecting his return any time soon, but there is still the internet contingent that is still basing the Lakers destiny on the presence of Andrew. It's already known that if Andrew gets back this season, he will most likely come off the bench... yet another fact that bothers the internet.

More on Ariza as well:
As for Ariza, Jackson did not say the defensive-minded small forward was definitely out, but his chances of returning from a foot injury to face the Nuggets are slim.

"I'm not ruling out Trevor," Jackson said, later adding: "He's going to have to do some things, but this is a pretty long series and we have some games in between."

There we have it. The story also mentioned that Coby Karl would be on the bench tomorrow, but it's likely that Ira Newble will get the final spot on the 12-man roster. He better.

If you're out of the loop, the Lakers play tomorrow at noon pacific on ABC. You can also check out my preview on the series for stats, historical numbers, matchups, ect...

[edit 11:29am - Sunday]
The latest rumors floating around he internet is that Bynum is currently suffering from Chondromalacia, which is the irritation of the cartilage of the undersurface of the kneecap. This is also known as Runner's Knee. Again, this is from a ClubLakers.com's forum post, so, you be the judge:

"(via Phil Jackson after Bynum reports from the doctor in NY)
His pain is caused from an irritation in his kneecap after the healing of the dislocation. This is known as Chondromalacia or Runner's Knee. He may have got this from working out so soon after healing. What he really needed was a gradual return to activity to avoid any of the inflammation of the knee (which we have been seeing so much, and why he's not practicing.) It's not so much of torn cartilidge, more damaged. And the only way he returns is if this irritation stops bothering him and play and he feels comfortable with the natural basketball movements he's used to like pivoting and landing. Right now, it's just waiting. " 

Source:
Bynum out, Ariza's availability uncertain for Lakers-Nuggets series [LA Times]