ONTARIO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was a late scratch from Wednesday night's exhibition game against the Portland Trail Blazers with a right shoulder strain.
Bryant will be day to day, but said he expects to return for the Lakers' next exhibition game Saturday night at Staples Center.
"I'm good. I just pinched it a little bit," Bryant said. "I just need to rest it. I should be fine."
Bryant said he thinks he hurt the shoulder Tuesday during practice when he dunked over teammate Antawn Jamison. He said he didn't feel pain at that point and continued to finish the practice.
Bryant then spent another 35 minutes on the court working with assistant coach Phil Handy on shooting and ballhandling drills. Later Tuesday night, though, his shoulder swelled up and became very painful.
"Last night it was very painful," Bryant said. "It hurt to even lay down. But it's a lot better right now."
Bryant had surgery on his right shoulder in 2003, but said this injury is completely unrelated and he doesn't expect to need an MRI.
"I don't need it; it's not that serious," Bryant said.
Lakers coach Mike Brown said third-year guard Jodie Meeks would start in Bryant's place on Wednesday.
