Lakers' Byron Scott: Kobe Bryant still intends to play all seven remaining games

The heatpacks covered seemingly every body part as Kobe Bryant sat on the bench and experienced another humbling reminder of Father Time’s strength.

The Lakers’ 37-year-old star lasted only nine minutes in Wednesday’s game against Miami because of soreness in his shoulders and knee. Still, Bryant will have four days to rest before the Lakers (16-59) host the Boston Celtics (43-32) on Sunday at Staples Center.

Said Lakers coach Byron Scott: “I expect him to play unless I hear differently.”

After all, Bryant only has seven games left of his 20-year NBA career.

“I sense he wants to play all seven of these games,” Scott said. “We haven’t put a minute restriction or anything like that. He wants to make sure he plays, and I’m sure he will.”

That brings up a complicated proposition, though. Would Bryant prefer playing in all seven games if it means he can only play nine minutes like he did against the Heat? Or would Bryant become open toward skipping a game at the fans’ expense so then he can play near his season average of 28.3 minutes per contest?

“If he plays, he wants to play (a lot). He loves that competition,” Scott said. “He loves competing at the highest level. The last game of eight or nine minutes didn’t sit well with him. But what else can you do when you can’t play? He wants to go out and play as much as he can. But that might not be able to happen because of the way he feels.”

A huge sack of money

The elation swept over Julius Randle as he hit his first-game wiing shot of his career. The left-handed hook shot gave the Lakers both a 102-100 overtime victory over Miami on Wednesday and temporary relief in a contentious locker room.

So, Randle extended that feel-good moment into breaking out his ier Sam Cassell and pretended to hold out grapefruit-sized balls. Most of the Lakers found the celebration fuy. The NBA found the celebration an “obscene gesture” and issued Randle a $15,000 fine for it.

“It’s a big win, having fun. It’s not that big of a deal,” Randle said. “Let the joke be on me.”

The NBA has routinely issued fines to players who celebrate in such fashion to keep celebrations in what it considers good taste. So when the Lakers’ second-year forward was asked on Wednesday if he still found it worth it to break out an entertaining gesture at the expense of a reduced paycheck, Randle looked up and smiled before offering a no comment.

“He’ll be all right,” Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell said. “He can handle that.”

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Fashion statement

Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson wore a D-League shirt undeeath his Lakers’ practice jersey on Friday. The gesture symbolized Clarkson’s roots as the Lakers’ former 46th pick played a few stints with the D-Fenders before landing on the NBA’s All-Rookie first team.

Said Clarkson: “I’ll never forget where I came from.”