Lakers Kobe Bryant and Jordan Clarkson questionable for Atlanta Hawks game tonight
Lakers Coach Byron Scott said both Kobe Bryant (sore right shoulder) and Jordan Clarkson (strained tendon in left knee) remain “questionable” for Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center.
When the media were allowed in for the Lakers’ shoot-around Friday morning, Clarkson was seen shooting with an assistant coach.
Clarkson was injured in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s game at Denver, hopping off the court and into the locker room.
“He was getting some shots up, see how it feels,” Scott said about Clarkson working out Friday. “He says he feels pretty good. He’ll go back there [in the training room] and get some more treatment.
“Then he’ll come to the game tonight and get some more treatment. We’ll see how he feels when he goes out and kind of warms up.”
Scott said he’ll be “very cautious” with Clarkson and that the final decision on whether the second-year guard plays will rest with Scott and athletic trainer Gary Vitti.
Scott said Bryant will make the final decision on whether he plays against the Hawks. Bryant started against the Nuggets, but didn’t play in the second half after his shoulder began to bother him.
“My gut feeling is that he probably won’t play tonight,” Scott said. “But I’ll talk to him later on and we’ll see how he feels.”
Scott could be in a bind if Clarkson and Bryant can’t play, his options limited.
He has started rookie Anthony Brown in the past for Bryant and brought Nick Young in off the bench.
But with reserve guard Lou Williams still out with a strained left hamstring, Scott doesn’t have much to choose from with his backcourt.
That means Marcelo Huertas could be an option to start at guard alongside rookie D’Angelo Russell.
“I’ve been thinking about that since last night,” Scott said about his starring lineup that he wouldn’t reveal to the media. “I thought about it this morning. I’ve got an idea. I’m just not sure about it yet.
“I’ve got a few options. I’m not going to say what they are because I’m not sure yet.”
Scott said Larry Nance Jr. (sore right knee) “will be available” to play against the Hawks. Nance didn’t play at Denver on Wednesday because Scott said they don’t want the rookie power forward playing in back-to-back games.
broderick.turner@latimes.com
Twitter:@BA_Turner
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