LOS ANGELES – When he got home, Kobe Bryant would settle into a tub full of ice, so the cold could razor its way into his body and cut the pain he felt after logging a season-high 36 minutes.
The heavy workload on Sunday was part of a significant pursuit, Bryant believed: To lead the Lakers to their first home win of the season, a 97-85 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The price, however, was that the back pain he combated in recent weeks returned. He felt those minutes in his legs, too.
By taking on such a heavy load, Bryant and Coach Byron Scott had agreed during the game that Bryant would skip Monday’s game in Phoenix, so Bryant was already looking forward to a day of recovery.