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| Report: Bryant to play in Game Five |
| BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is expected to play in Wednesday's pivotal Game Five of the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz, according to a published report Monday. ESPN.com reported that Bryant, who tweaked his back in Sunday's 123-115 overtime loss to the Jazz in Game Four, is confident about the injury not hampering him. "I'll play," Bryant said to the network's web site. "I can't imagine it being worse than what it was (Sunday) night." Lakers coach Phil Jackson was upset with his team for "plopping the ball in Bryant's" lap" on Sunday night and told ESPN that the club has to do a better job of executing even if Bryant isn't 100 percent. "What I have to do is prepare this team to play," said Jackson, who reportedly also believes his superstar will suit up. "(Even in a wounded state), we still think (Bryant's) efficient in what he did and what we did as a basketball team." The newly minted league Most Valuable Player, Bryant will look to give the Lakers the advantage in the series which is tied at 2-2. The home team has won each game in the best-of-seven matchup. Bryant, who led all scorers with 33 points Sunday, tweaked his back on the second possession of the game while taking a turnaround jumper. As a result, he suffered back spasms that he said limited his movement throughout. "You've got to make some adjustments," said Bryant, who answered questions at the news conference Sunday while standing presumably to avoid aggravating his injury. "You can't run like you want to, cut like you want to." Bryant scored 25 of his points in the first three quarters. He scored just three points in the fourth and was 1-of-7 from the field in the extra period but would not blame it on his back. |
