Lakers' Bryant expected back tonight against Spurs

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, showing no ill effects from an all-out mid-week test of the sore shin that has sidelined him for seven games, is expected back in the lineup tonight in San Antonio (9:30 ET, ESPN).

He didn't hesitate when asked by the Los Angeles Times whether he could play all 48 minutes against the Spurs.

“If I have to," he said.

Bryan has been sidelined for two weeks by the sore left shin, but in his absence the Lakers (40-23) have gone 5-2.

According to the Times, they compensated for his absence in a variety of ways:

• They relied more on ball movement.

• Forward Metta World Peace took on added leadership.

• Forward Matt Barnes improved his shooting percentage.

• They improved on defense.

• And, perhaps most important of all, their belief in themselves as a team grew.

"With us having the ability to win some games, our guys are gaining some confidence," Lakers coach Mike Brown said, according to Yahoo! Sports. "Not only that, (Bryant) is gaining confidence in them.

"Different guys are having to step up at different times through the course of his absence. That could only help us come playoff time or the time we get him back."

The Times noted that the Lakers shouldn't feel they're a better team without Bryant, nor have they ever suggested they are. But by going 5-2 in his absence, they held on to third place in the Western Conference, gave Bryant some needed rest and raised everyone's collective level of play.

"He makes us better," said World Peace, who averaged 16.3 points in the seven games, more than double his season average. "I can't wait to get Kobe back. I just can't wait.

"We'll get him back in shape. I came here to play with Kobe. I know what type of player Kobe is, and I wanted to win some rings. That's why I came to L.A."

Bryant—who leads the league in scoring (28.1 ppg) but is shooting only 43 percent, his lowest since his second season—plans to play in at least two of the Lakers' final three regular-season games to get ready for the playoffs, Yahoo! Sports reported.

After tonight’s game, the Lakers host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday and then close the regular season Thursday at Sacramento.

According to the website, the Lakers could decide to sit Bryant against the Kings because the playoffs begin two days later.

After the Lakers’ victory Wednesday over the Warriors, Bryant talked with reporters about his return and what he’ll try to accomplish in the regular season’s closing days: “It will kind of establish my rhythm more. It finishes the season up the right way and generates the momentum we need toward the postseason.”

According to multiple media reports, Bryant, who last played April 6, went through a tough on-court workout with Lakers assistant Phil Handy about three hours before the Warriors game. Bryant reportedly was healthy enough to play against Golden State, but the Lakers opted to give him a couple more days.

Lakers trainer Gary Vitti "said specifically when we decided to shut (Bryant) down that it's better to be overcautious,” Brown said, according to Yahoo! Sports. “If you sit him for five days, and it looks like it's feeling good and then you put him out there and then he re-aggravates it, those five days that you sat him were wasted and you got to start him all over again."