Kobe Bryant will not play tonight against Heat
Lakers forward Kobe Bryant walks to the end of the bench after coming out of the game in the first half against the Nets.
Kobe Bryant will not play tonight against the Miami Heat, the Lakers announced an hour before tipoff.
Bryant did not take part in Monday’s practice or Tuesday morning’s shoot-around.
It was a surprising turnaround from the plan laid out by Byron Scott earlier in the day. The Lakers coach said he wanted Bryant to play against Miami and then Wednesday night against Orlando, testing his endurance in the first of 18 back-to-back sets this season.
It’s also unexpected because Bryant, 37, recently told Scott he wanted to play all 82 games in what may be his final NBA season.
Instead, Bryant is sitting against the Heat. The Lakers (1-5) have played six games.
The resting concept is not new for Bryant. Before he went down with a torn rotator cuff injury last season, he sat out eight games to rest.
Bryant has struggled so far, shooting 32% while averaging 16.2 points a game.
Metta World Peace is expected to take his place in the starting lineup against Miami.
MORE ON LAKERS:
Lakers-Heat contest may feature battle of the old guard
Lakers fall to Knicks, 99-95, in what feels like a Kobe farewell to N.Y.
Byron Scott adds to the belief that this is Kobe Bryant’s final NBA season
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Dan Woike's weekly newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
