Kobe Bryant’s playing status uncertain vs. Golden State

"The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant #24 during their game against the Spurs at the Staples Center Friday, November 14, 2014. The Spurs beat the Lakers 93-80. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)"

“The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant #24 during their game against the Spurs at the Staples Center Friday, November 14, 2014. The Spurs beat the Lakers 93-80. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)”

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant intends to play in Sunday’s game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center after nursing flu-like symptoms in the past two days.

“If I was a betting man,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said, “I would bet he would play.”

Yet, that is not entirely certain.

Bryant did not attend both the Lakers’ morning shootaround session on Sunday and practice on Saturday. Scott reported talking with Bryant Saturday night and revealing he has “felt a whole lot better” after scoring only nine points on 1-of-14 shooting in 36 minutes of the Lakers’ 93-80 loss on Friday to the San Antonio Spurs. Bryant has shot a career-low 36.7 percent through nine games, but his 25.4 points per game averaged represents a rare bright spot amid the Lakers’ 1-8 record.

“I told him to stay home and get some more rest,” Scott said. “‘Hopefully I’ll see you at the arena.'”

What did Bryant say?

“‘I’ll be there,'” Scott recalled Bryant saying. “I knew that was coming. I expect him to be at the arena tonight. But we’ll see how he feels.”

Bryant hardly felt fine against San Antonio. He looked sluggish as he moved up and down the court. Plenty of his shots fell short. And Bryant looked to pass even on possessions where he had open looks. Yet, Bryant still played 36 minutes, including the entire first and third quarter. Bryant also committed six turnovers and hit his lone field goal with 10:59 left in the game. Bryant sat nearly four minutes later.

Because of that, Scott suggested he will have a tighter leash on Bryant’s playing time.

“I trust him, but I’ll also see for myself how he’s playing and how he’s moving,” Scott said. “If I see him laboring, I will have to change my strategy as far as minutes go. Obviously I got about six or seven hours to see how that’s going to go.”

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