Bryant will play tonight

Kobe Bryant will play in his 235th consecutive regular-season game when he takes the floor tonight to face the Denver Nuggets. Bryant's sprained left ankle was not so bad that he had to take a night off. He last missed a game March 7, 2007 against the Milwaukee Bucks. When asked if it might be wiser to rest Bryant, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said: "I believe in players playing. You know there is pain that you play through in the NBA and then there is pain that could be detrimental to your well being. ... A player has to know that if they're been around for any length of time, what you can go through, what level you can stand and still perform. And Kobe has managed that maybe better than any athlete."