Kobe plays against Nuggets

Updated: February 6, 2010, 1:49 AM ET
By Dave McMenamin | ESPNLosAngeles.com

Kobe Bryant played Friday at home against the Denver Nuggets despite spraining his left ankle Wednesday against the Charlotte Bobcats.

"I think he wants to see his way through this game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Friday to ESPN 710's Beto Duran at the team's morning shootaround.

Bryant did not fully participate in the shootaround, but did walk through the team's defensive schemes and also got a limited amount of shots up.

Jackson credited the Lakers training staff, led by Gary Vitti, for their work in alleviating the pain so Bryant could play, but also praised Bryant's mental toughness.

"Kobe is focused," Jackson said. "He can set it aside."

Dave McMenamin

ESPNLosAngeles.com
Dave McMenamin spent five seasons as a staff writer for NBA.com in New York and Los Angeles before joining ESPNLosAngeles.com to cover the Lakers and the NBA.

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