L.A.’s Bynum suspended five games

? Lakers center Andrew Bynum was suspended for five games next season for his flagrant foul on Dallas guard J.J. Barea in Los Angeles’ final playoff game.

The NBA announced the suspension Tuesday, two days after Bynum was ejected for the foul late in the two-time defending champions’ 36-point loss to the Mavericks in Game 4. The league also fined Bynum $25,000 for ripping off his jersey while heading to the locker room, which means the suspension will cost Bynum more than $700,000.

Bynum expressed contrition for the episode after his exit interview at the Lakers’ training complex earlier Tuesday, saying the foul was “terrible” and “unacceptable.”

Bynum said his actions “don’t represent me, my upbringing, this franchise or any of the Laker fans out there that want to watch us and want us to succeed,” Bynum said. “I want to actually apologize to J.J. Barea for doing that. I’m just glad that he wasn’t seriously injured in the event. All I can say is, I’ve looked at (the replay), it’s terrible, and it definitely won’t be happening again.”

Bynum hit Barea with a flying elbow in the ribs while the Dallas guard drove to the basket for a layup in the fourth quarter. Barea wasn’t seriously hurt, but he stayed down for an extended period of time time while Bynum left the court.

Bynum said he was frustrated by the Lakers’ awful performance in an elimination game, falling far behind in the first half and never contending.