National Basketball Association

Kobe to sit out Lakers' final two regular season games

Published Apr. 12, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kobe Bryant won't play in the Los Angeles Lakers' last two regular season games against Sacramento and the Clippers.

Team spokesman John Black said Monday that Bryant would rest the broken bone in his index finger on his right shooting hand. He sat out games last week at Denver and Minnesota to rest his finger, along with a swollen right knee and a sprained ankle.

Bryant scored 20 points in a 91-88 loss to Portland on Sunday, and said afterward he planned to play the last two games.

Coach Phil Jackson says he received a text from Bryant later that evening saying he probably shouldn't play.

The defending champion Lakers are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.