Kobe Bryant Injury: Lakers Guard Set To Return Friday

Kobe hasn’t played since April 6, but is not concerned that his shin injury is a serious one. Instead, Bryant has opted to rest up and let it heal as the Lakers have already secured their spot in the NBA Playoffs. The Lakers were admittedly a bit overcautious with Bryant’s injury as well, knowing full well they would need him in the Playoffs.

Nowitzki may have been cold, but the rest of the Mavericks were red hot. Dallas shot 55 percent in the first half and took a six point lead into the locker room. But the Lakers chipped away at the deficit to take a one point lead into the fourth quarter.

Bynum finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds. For the game he was just 9-24, but he was 5-7 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Sessions finished with 22, and World Peace added 18. Gasol finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and hit huge back-to-back three pointers in the fourth quarter.

Here, Coach Kobe gesticulates wildly, likely to convey that, “If I were on the court, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

For more on the Lakers, visit Silver Screen and Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles.

For everything you need to know about these two teams, visit Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll, SB Nation Los Angeles, Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.