Kobe Bryant sitting out vs. Heat for rest reasons in back-to-back

Kobe Bryant will miss his first game of the Los Angeles Lakers' season when he sits out for rest reasons against the Miami Heat, the Lakers announced prior to the first half of their first back-to-back of the year. Bryant had recently expressed the hope to play in all 82 games in what may be his final season, health providing, but that dream is over early in the year.

Scott responded to the 82-game report by saying he'd like Kobe to "think twice" about the kind of work load that would be in Year 20. It appears that message has already been sent, though it's just one game in a long season.

The Lakers will start Metta World Peace in his place, while Anthony Brown shifts back onto the active roster. Scott has slowly tweaked the bench rotation, playing Larry Nance, Jr. extended burn over both Ryan Kelly and Brandon Bass. The wing rotation might allow time for Brown, who's played just four minutes thus far.

Tipoff is at 4 p.m. PT in Orlando on Wednesday, and we'll await word on if he'll be sitting out both games as they trudge through a five-game road trip.