Lakers: Kobe a Game-Time Decision Vs. Pacers, Pau To Return Soon

Kobe Bryant will be a game-time decision for the Lakers when they face the Indiana Pacers on Friday. Bryant sprained his left ankle in Wednesday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks while attempting a game-tying shot with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

"He's getting treatment," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni told ESPNLA.com after the team's shootaround Friday. "Obviously he'll get better every day, and we'll see. When he can go, he'll go."

The Lakers received some positive news regarding injured power forward Pau Gasol. D'Antoni believes that Gasol is nearing a return from the plantar fascia tear that has kept him out the past five weeks.

"Sometime Sunday, Monday right through there he'll be ready to roll, hopefully, with no setbacks," D'Antoni said.

D'Antoni also commented Gasol's role in the Lakers formation once he returns.

"He's going to be a starter at some point, and he's going to be a big part of what we do," D'Antoni said. "So, that's for sure. Whether it's the first day, the fifth day or the 10th day, I don't know. Depends a lot on his conditioning and how everything is going, but we will work him back in where he starts."

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