File photo: Los Angeles Lakers guards Kobe Bryant, left, and Steve Nash confer during a break in action in the fourth quarter of the Denver Nuggets’ 126-114 victory over the Lakers in an NBA game in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. (David Zalubowski/AP File Photo)
No matter how much Kobe Bryant or Steve Nash may have dazzled Lakers coach Byron Scott, he pledged he would stay firm on staying strict with their playing time.
The Lakers’ 98-95 preseason victory Monday against the Denver Nuggets at San Diego’s Valley View Casino Center featured plenty of promising signs from Bryant and Nash after combining for only 21 games last season amid overlapping injuries. Bryant posted 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting and five assists in 21 minutes, while Nash finished with 11 points on a 4-of-8 clip and five assists in 20 minutes.
So how will Scott play Bryant and Nash when the Lakers host the Golden State Warriors Thursday at Staples Center?
“It’s going to be this way that they played last night for a few games,” Scott said following Tuesday’s practice.
The Lakers’ practice on Tuesday consisted of film study and player walk throughs, marking the team’s lightest training camp session that has mostly featured heavy conditioning drills and full-court scrimmages. All of the Lakers’ starters, including Bryant and Nash, watched film and then received treatment.
Meanwhile, the Lakers reported Wesley Johnson feeling better from a patellar tendon in his left knee and will likely practice on Wednesday. Lakers forward Xavier Henry participated in five on zero drills on Tuesday after sitting out all of last week with back spasms.
As for Nash and Bryant, Scott plans to increase their minutes likely for the past one or two exhibition games before the Lakers’ regular season starts on Oct. 29 against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. Both Bryant and Nash have publicly supported Scott’s minute restriction.
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