Kobe Bryant could play in back-to-back games this week, Byron Scott says

The Lakers are still trying to figure out what to do with Kobe Bryant. Specifically, his playing time.

He’s averaged 29.2 minutes a game, comfortably within the 28- to 32-minute window established by Coach Byron Scott, but now comes the hard part.

The Lakers have their first back-to-back Tuesday (against Miami) and Wednesday (against Orlando). What to do with the 37-year-old in such situations, of which there will be 18 this season?

“It might be one of those things where I say, ‘You know what, KB? Let’s play these two and see how you feel, and let’s go from there,’” Scott said Tuesday.

In other words, the next couple of days are potentially a trial run for the rest of the Lakers’ back-to-backs.

Bryant has expressed interest in playing all 82 games, though Scott said Monday that might not be plausible. It wouldn’t be surprising if Bryant sat out some games of back-to-backs, Scott said Tuesday, but it would depend mainly on how he felt on a case-by-case basis.

The Lakers (1-5) are struggling, as is Bryant, who’s shooting only 32% while averaging 16.2 points. He is in the final year of a contract paying him $25 million.