Even though Bryant did return to the court and helped the Lakers to a 96-92 victory, it was clear he was still experiencing pain in the knee. Luckily, the injury was not felt in the Achilles heel, but whenever Bryant goes down the Lakers must be concerned.
After the win, Bryant spoke to Mike Trudell and told him that despite the setback, he should be ready for the team’s next game on Friday.
Bryant told me that he “twisted” his knee “a little bit,” and that it’s “a little stiff.” Should be OK for Friday vs. MIN.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 18, 2013
The fact the Kobe came back into the game is certainly an encouraging sign for the team, and if the injury was anything serious, the coaching staff would have benched him.
Nevertheless, with a plethora of injuries already affecting the roster, the Lakers should be cautious about playing Bryant on Friday. Hyperextension can happen often and if it occurs again, it could sideline Bryant for an extended period of time.
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