The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that star guard Kobe Bryant, who is nursing a sprained left ankle, will be a game-time decision for Friday night's game against the Indiana Pacers.
"He's getting treatment," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said after the team's shootaround Friday. "Obviously he'll get better every day, and we'll see. When he can go, he'll go."
Bryant suffered a severely sprained left ankle when he landed awkwardly after taking a potential game-tying jump shot with 3.9 seconds remaining in Wednesday's 96-92 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He appeared to land on the foot of Dahntay Jones, who was defending him closely on the play, and rolled the ankle before crumpling to the floor in pain.
Second string guard Jodie Meeks will get the star in Bryant's place should the veteran All-Star be unable to play.
D'Antoni also addressed the health of All-Star forward Pau Gasol, who is nearing a return from the plantar fascia tear that had kept him sidelined for the past five weeks.
"Sometime Sunday, Monday right through there he'll be ready to roll, hopefully, with no setbacks," D'Antoni said.
assuming a role in the starting lineup.
going to be a starter at some point, and he's going to be a big part of what we do," D'Antoni said. "So, that's for sure. Whether it's the first day, the fifth day or the 10th day, I don't know. Depends a lot on his conditioning and how everything is going, but we will work him back in where he starts."
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