Getting better all the time

Kobe makes it all the way through practice

Kobe Bryant made it through practice but said he wasn't sure how he would react for Friday's game. AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant was on the mend Thursday, back to practice with the Los Angeles Lakers. He said he was feeling better, although he hadn't eaten for more than 24 hours.

Apparently stricken with food poisoning before Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in Sacramento, Bryant left practice several times Wednesday to vomit before being taken to see the team doctor.

"I was able to come in and run," Bryant said following practice at Staples Center, where the Kings and Lakers meet Friday night in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series. "It feels pretty good outside of the fatigue factor.

"Yesterday I wasn't able to go. Today I feel fine. I feel like I can do everything I could do before I got sick."

Regarding Friday night's game, Bryant said he wouldn't know exactly how he'll react until he's on the court.

"Hopefully I'll be ready, it's a matter of getting my wind back," he said. "If we were playing tonight or yesterday, I obviously would have had to play through a lot of pain. Injuries you can always play around, being sick zaps your energy."

Bryant said he felt "a little weird" due to the illness and lack of activity since Monday night's game at Arco Arena. After practice, he ran several baseline-to-baseline sprints on the Staples Center court before speaking with reporters.

Kobe conspiracy Click the image to launch the clip Kobe Bryant doubts there was a conspiracy to make him sick and discusses playing with his illness. Start Video Plus Visit Video Plus for all the latest video and audio.

Bryant was hit with what the Lakers believe was food poisoning early Monday, after ordering a bacon cheeseburger and cheesecake from room service at a Sacramento hotel. He scored 22 points in 40 minutes that night in a 96-90 loss to the Kings that evened the series 1-1.

"I slept all day (Tuesday)," he said. "I couldn't tell if I was sick or not."

He found out Wednesday. He ate breakfast before leaving for practice. When he got to the Lakers' training facility in nearby El Segundo, he didn't feel well, and then came several trips from the film room and court to the locker room to vomit.

He was sent to visit Dr. John Moe, who examined Bryant and prescribed antibiotics.

"He said it was either a virus or bacteria," Bryant said, adding with a smile: "I'm going to have a burger after this."

He said he hasn't taken any intravenous fluids since returning from Sacramento.

Bryant said he believes his illness stemmed from food poisoning and the bacon cheeseburger he ate.

"It wasn't that good, I only had half of it," he said. "(Dr. Moe) said it was lingering effects, my body had so much trauma.

"As far as a conspiracy, I don't know, I don't think so."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he expects Bryant to be at or close to normal Friday night.

"We told him if he had some chicken soup, he'd be fine," Jackson said. "What we have to watch is how strong he is in the third quarter, second half."

Shaquille O'Neal said he expects Bryant to have a big game.

"He had a sub-par game the other night," O'Neal said. "He doesn't like to have two sub-par games in a row. We didn't lose that game because Kobe was shaky. We're at home now, our chefs, our food, our wives."

 

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