NBA News Wire
Lakers’ Bryant rests vs. Magic
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant missed Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic at Staples Center to rest.
“Talked to him a little bit today, asked him how he felt and he said he felt OK, so I said ‘OK, you’re resting tonight,'” Lakers coach Byron Scott said during his pregame meeting with the media. “He didn’t fight me on it. Stuck to his word as far as allowing me to make that decision for him, and I just thought tonight would be a good night to rest.”
Bryant managed a season-low four points on 2-of-12 shooting in 28 minutes in Wednesday’s 114-89 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Scott said his performance against the Clippers did not factor into his decision.
Bryant, who also missed three games last month due to fatigue, did not travel with the team to Portland, where the Lakers lost 98-94 to the Trail Blazers on Monday because Scott refused to play him in back-to-back contests. Bryant had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in 32 minutes in an 88-87 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Bryant hit the game-winning basket with 12.4 seconds remaining in the contest.
Bryant’s status for Sunday’s game against the Trail Blazers at Staples Center is unknown.
