The Los Angeles Lakers announced Friday that both Kobe Bryant and Paul Gasol will return to their starting lineup for the team's game against the Washington Wizards. Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni debated on bringing in Gasol off the bench to ease his transition after being out since Feb. 5 with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, but was confident in the power forward's ability to work with the starters after the team's shootaround.
"The reason being, he'll warm up, he feels better when he gets warmed up and gets going instead of sitting over there for about 10-20 minutes and then playing," D'Antoni told ESPNLa.com. "He's more comfortable that way and that's what we're going to end up anyway, so we might as well go ahead."
D'Antoni said Gasol would be "limited" as he gets his "wind and legs" back, but said there would be no restrictions on Bryant as he returns after missing just two games with a severly sprained left ankle.
Bryant tweeted after shootaround Friday: "Ankle was a lil sore from practice yesterday but should be good to go tonight #mambaface."
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