Kobe Bryant played 36 minutes – his most in 11 months – including all but the final seven seconds of the fourth quarter in the Lakers’ win over the Pistons last night.
But it’ll cost the 37-year-old.
This was always going to be a tough stretch for Kobe. Tonight’s game in Phoenix will be the Lakers’ fifth in seven days in five cities. Kobe will have played in just two of the five.
But the Lakers’ schedule softens from here. They’ll have three days off before hosting the Raptors on Friday and Trail Blazers on Sunday. After the relatively short trip to Golden State on Tuesday, the Lakers have three more off days.
It could be a chance for Kobe to get his legs under him, but his age, there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready for even this stretch.