On Saturday night, for the first time this year, Kobe Bryant did not start in a game for the Los Angeles Lakers. Just before tipoff in their Saturday game against the Phoenix Suns in Arizona, it was announced that Bryant would not play, due to tenosynovitis of the shin.
Bryant was kicked in the shin last Saturday in a game against the Hornets but played in four games since then. Following Wednesday's game against the Clippers, Bryant appeared in the locker room in a walking boot, as the injury had not improved. Bryant still played in yet another game on Friday, but was shut down for Saturday's game by head trainer Gary Vitti, according to Mike Trudell of the Lakers blog.
The injury will end Bryant's streak of 138 straight games played.
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