With the Lakers scheduled to take on the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 on Thursday night, they will need all their players to step up and help them close out the resilient Nuggets on the road. Now it’s looking like that might be a little more difficult than previously imagined.
According to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com, Kobe Bryant missed the team shootaround Thursday morning due to a case of gastroenteritis.
Kobe Bryant missed L.A.’s shootaround with gastroenteritis. We’ll have an update 90 minutes before the game.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 10, 2012
Bryant’s history of playing through illness and injury is nearly legendary at this point, so it’s safe to assume he’ll be on the floor when the ball is tipped. Still, the Lakers are going to need a big game from Bryant and the rest of their key players if they want to close out Denver and avoid a Game 7.
UPDATE: 7:24 PM PST
Bryant will play tonight in Game 6, to very little surprise.
I’m sure you’re all very shocked to hear that Kobe’s going to play through his gastroenteritis, which apparently is a bad case.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 11, 2012