Kobe Bryant downplays sore shoulder, says he’ll be fine in a couple days

Kobe Bryant said his shoulder soreness did not seem serious and he hoped to play in the Lakers’ next game on Tuesday at Denver.

Bryant sat out the Lakers’ 118-78 loss Saturday to Oklahoma City after experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder. He sustained a torn rotator cuff in the same shoulder after a dunk last January that ended his season.

Bryant’s first dunk this season came two days ago.

“I’m sure it didn’t help,” he said. “It was [bothering] me before then.”

Bryant said he would let the shoulder rest and didn’t plan on seeing a doctor. He wasn’t surprised there would be soreness in it after undergoing surgery 11 months ago to repair the rotator cuff.

“It’s just something that needs a couple days,” he said.

Bryant, 37, hoped to play in all the Lakers’ remaining games after announcing he would retire after this season. Saturday marked the fourth game he skipped -- he sat out two last month because of a sore back and another one so he could rest.

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