Lakers’ Kobe Bryant to play against New Orleans

"The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant #24 looks to shoot as the Thunder’s Andre Roberson #21 defends during their NBA game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Friday, December 19, 2014. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

“The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant #24 looks to shoot as the Thunder’s Andre Roberson #21 defends during their NBA game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Friday, December 19, 2014. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

NEW ORLEANS — After resting for the past two games in a six-day span, Kobe Bryant will suit up when the Lakers (12-30) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (20-21) on Wednesday at Smoothie King Center.

“He’s ready to go,” said Lakers coach Byron Scott, who still plans to restrict Bryant’s playing time between 30 to 32 minutes.

Bryant did not participate in Wednesday’s shootaround and did not talk to reporters after emerging out of the team’s locker room. After resting in eight of the previous 15 games, Bryant has avoided any on-court work both to maximize his rest and time for treatment. But Scott acknowledged the inevitable that Bryant will likely appear rusty after last playing in Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“There really isn’t unless we want him to play the remainder 40 games and wear himself out. That’s definitely not in our plans,” Scott said. “There are days he’ll have rest. Then there are games he normally will be rusty and get his his timing back the next game. It’s something we have to live with. That’s something he has to live with as well. Right now that’s something he’s more than willing to do that just to make sure we preserve him as much as possible.”

Scott stressed that his conservative approach has nothing to do with the 36-year-old Bryant trying to recover from playing in two games last week. Bryant posted 12 points on only 3-of-19 shooting and seven assists against Miami on Tuesday. He then rebounded with a near triple-double on Thursday against Cleveland with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, a career-high 17 assists and six rebounds.

Scott anticipated that Bryant will have to play 10 to 15 more games playing between 30-32 minutes while also resting in between before feeling normal. Bryant will sit out at least one game of a back-to-back, but his other absences aren’t predetermined. Add it all up, and the Lakers might run out of games before the 2014-15 season.

“That might be. I’ll holler at you [reporters] after the All-Star break [on Feb. 20],” Scott said. “We’ll mention it again.”

In the meantime, Scott and Bryant have yet to determine which games he will rest beyond at least one game on the Lakers’ seven remaining back-to-backs. Scott has also pledged he will not exceed the 32-minute threshold should the Lakers play in overtime. Nor will Scott trim Bryant’s minutes even more to ensure he could play the entire overtime since that would hurt the Lakers’ chances to win in regulation.

But how will Scott use Bryant in overtime should he have a few minutes left in his playing-time restriction. Will Scott play Bryant to open extra regulation in hopes to give the Lakers a jumpstart? Or will Scott save Bryant in hopes he can close the game out in dramatic fashion?

“I don’t know yet,” Scott said. “I’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it.”

Meanwhile, Scott will wait until game time approaches before determining if Ronnie Price can play after missing the past two games with a sore right elbow. Lakers forward Carlos Boozer will play despite recently nursing a left tricep contusion.


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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com