The Los Angeles Lakers return to the court Sunday night for a game against the Sacramento Kings, but they will likely be without Kobe Bryant.
[GET $5 FREE WHEN YOU ENTER EARLY FOR SPORTSBOOK’S $100,000 BRACKET CHALLENGE]The Lakers’ star suffered a severe ankle sprain in the team’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Mar. 13 and was ruled out “indefinitely” shortly after the game. Even though Bryant started in the Lakers’ match in Indiana, he called it quits after the first quarter as the ankle caused too much discomfort.
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Los Angeles managed to beat the talented Pacers team without Bryant, and it seems as though it will once again have to play with Kobe watching. The OC Register reports that Kobe is not expected to suit up for the Lakers’ game Sunday night in Staples Center.
Kobe Bryant is not expected to play Sunday night vs. Sacramento because of his sprained left ankle. Assuming he doesn’t play, it makes some sense to skip Monday night in Phoenix also considering the Lakers then have three days off before playing Friday night vs. Washington.
Based on the way the Lakers played against the Pacers, the team should not have any problems beating the Kings with Kobe on the bench. The second unit played a vital role in the victory and Steve Blake led the surge with a season high in points.
Nevertheless, Los Angeles will need its stars to carry the team to victory with a banged up Kobe Bryant. In the win over the Pacers, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash played very well together and they must be on the same page in the game on Sunday.
