The Lakers and Hornets are tied at 2 – 2 in their first round matchup and all of a sudden it has become a best of 3 series. That means every game, every quarter, is critical. Therefore, Lakers fans should be happy to know Kobe expects to play Game 5 after rolling his ankle in New Orleans. But, why is he playing ball in low-tops in the first place?
Kobe Bryant rolled his left ankle late in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 93-88 loss to the New Orleans Hornets in Game 4 of their first-round series on Sunday.
“It’s sore,” Bryant said, conducting his postgame interview in the training room area of the visitor’s locker room at New Orleans Arena rather than at the podium for the televised press conference. “It just rolled over. It’s been weeks since I hurt it last and when it happens, when you roll your ankle once, it’s easy to go and it just went.”
He expects to play in Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5 as the series heads back to Staples Center tied 2-2.
“I should play,” Bryant said. “It’s going to take a lot to stop me from playing.
“I’m concerned, as I am about any injury, but I’ve played through so many of them it kind of becomes old hat for me.”
Read more about Kobe’s ankle via ESPN.com
