LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant won't play in the
Los Angeles Lakers' last two regular season games against Sacramento
and the Clippers.
Team spokesman John Black said Monday that
Bryant would rest the broken bone in his index finger on his right
shooting hand. He sat out games last week at Denver and Minnesota to
rest his finger, along with a swollen right knee and a sprained ankle.
Bryant scored 20 points in a 91-88 loss to
Portland on Sunday, and said afterward he planned to play the last two
games.
Coach Phil Jackson says he received a text from
Bryant later that evening saying he probably shouldn't play.
The defending champion Lakers are the No. 1
seed in the Western Conference playoffs.