This March 31, 2012 file photo shows Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant reacting after defeating the New Orleans Hornets in an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. A few months ago, Time Warner Cable Inc. was crying foul at the high price it had to pay to air Knicks and Rangers games in New York. Now, the shoe is on the other foot. The nation’s No. 4 TV distributor bought the regional TV rights for the Los Angeles Lakers and pro soccer’s LA Galaxy last year for an estimated $3 billion over 20 years. It is launching a couple of new channels based on those rights on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, file
SAN DIEGO — The Los Angeles Lakers are not sure if Kobe Bryant will be fit to play in Tuesday’s NBA opener against the Dallas Mavericks.
Bryant is nursing a bruised and strained right foot. He did not make the trip to San Diego for the Lakers’ final preseason game on Thursday against the Sacramento Kings.
Lakers coach Mike Brown said it didn’t make sense for Bryant to make the bus trip because he needs to elevate the foot. “And the 2½-hour ride down and back would not be good.”
Lakers center Dwight Howard was scheduled to play against the Kings. Howard is recovering from back surgery.