Kobe Bryant will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason game against the NBA champion Golden State Warriors tonight at Valley View Casino Center because of a leg injury.
The perennial all-star guard suffered a contusion in his lower left leg during Tuesday’s 107-100 preseason loss to the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas when he tripped over the right foot of guard Rajon Rondo and his leg hit the right leg of center Kosta Koufos.
Bryant received treatment Friday at the team’s practice facility in El Segundo and did some shooting, but did not practice with the team, coach Byron Scott said.
“For precautionary reasons, there’s no need have him try to play tomorrow,” Scott told reporters Friday at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo.
“We’ve got two more preseason games after that and six days before the start of the regular season.”
If today’s game were a regular-season game, there “would be a much better chance of him playing, but since it’s not, there’s no need for him to play tomorrow night,” Scott said on Friday.
Bryant will receive additional treatment today. He will not accompany the team to San Diego, Scott said.
There’s probably a “real good chance” Brazilian guard Marcelo Huertas will make his debut with the Lakers tonight, the coach said. The 31-year-old has missed all five preseason games after straining his right hamstring during training camp in Honolulu on Oct. 3.
“He did everything today except the last five or six minutes (of practice),” Scott said. “He was moving really well.”
The Lakers signed the 6-foot-3 Huertas as a free agent Sept. 9 after he spent the past four season with Spain’s FC Barcelona.
Scott said Friday afternoon he “hadn’t even thought about who I’m going to start” in tonight’s game.
