Kobe Bryant eyes Friday return - ESPN

Updated: April 18, 2012, 10:57 PM ET

By Dave McMenamin | ESPNLosAngeles.com

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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant performed well in a series of on-court physical tests Tuesday before the Lakers' game against the Golden State Warriors, but will continue to sit out, missing his seventh straight game with a left shin injury.

Bryant

"He's not completely right," Lakers coach Mike Brown said before the game. "Just because a guy can run and jump a little bit, and shoot, that doesn't mean that there's a comfort level from everybody to put him out there."

Bryant went through a full pregame workout with Lakers player development coach Phil Handy more than three hours before tipoff, combining shooting drills, one-on-one play and wind sprints, all without the aid of a wrap or brace on his left shin.

Lakers trainers will wait 24 hours to see how Bryant's body responds to the test on Wednesday before making a determination of whether he'll be cleared to return.

It is clear, however, that Bryant is continuing to improve from the tenosynovitis injury to his left shin that has sidelined him since April 7.

"It's a day-by-day thing," Brown said. "Like I've said before, he's getting better. He's made progress. We like where he is right now."

Bryant told ESPN/ABC sideline reporter Heather Cox during the Lakers' 112-108 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks last weekend that he will "definitely be back well before the playoffs."

The Lakers have three regular-season games remaining after Tuesday -- Friday in San Antonio, Sunday at home against Oklahoma City and next Thursday in Sacramento.

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Brown said there was "a chance" Bryant plays Friday in San Antonio in a rubber match of sorts against the Spurs after the Lakers won 98-84 on April 11 and the Spurs won 112-91 on Monday, dropping L.A.'s record to 4-2 without Bryant.

"There's definitely a chance on Friday," Brown said. "Obviously, there is even a better chance on Sunday."

Brown said Golden State's depleted lineup and 22-38 record did not factor into the decision to continue to hold Bryant out.

"It's not necessarily been about an opponent, it's been about making sure everything is right," Brown said.

The Lakers held the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoff standings coming into Tuesday night, just a half game ahead of the No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers.

"You just got to go play the games and win," Brown said. "If you play the games and you win, it doesn't matter where everybody is (in the standings). If you expect a championship, which we expect to do, you're going to have to beat the best of the best ...

"Whoever we play, let's lace 'em up, because we have to go through the best in order to win it."

Added Brown: "We're trying like the Dickens to (hold on to the No. 3 seed), but we're not going to do it at the cost of somebody's health or anything like that."

Dave McMenamin

ESPNLosAngeles.com

Dave McMenamin spent five seasons as a staff writer for NBA.com in New York and Los Angeles before joining ESPNLosAngeles.com to cover the Lakers and the NBA.