EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Andrew Bynum says his injured knee gradually is getting worse, although the Los Angeles Lakers' starting center plans to keep playing on his swelling leg in the Western Conference finals.

Bynum disclosed his right knee's worsening state after running in practice Saturday with the Lakers, who open the conference finals against Phoenix on Monday night.

Bynum discovered a small tear in his meniscus after straining his knee during the Lakers' first-round series with Oklahoma City. The resultant swelling prevented him from playing effectively in the defending NBA champions' last two playoff games in Utah.

Bynum says he'll keep playing with the injury, but doesn't know how it will affect his game.