Kobe Bryant rolled his left ankle late in the Lakers' 93-88 loss to the Hornets in Game 4 of their first-round series on Sunday, according to an ESPN.com report.

"It's sore," Bryant said, conducting his postgame interview in the training room area of the visitor's locker room at New Orleans Arena rather than at the podium for the televised press conference. "It just rolled over. It's been weeks since I hurt it last and when it happens, when you roll your ankle once, it's easy to go and it just went."

He expects to play in Tuesday's pivotal Game 5 as the series heads back to Staples Center tied 2-2.

"I should play," Bryant said. "It's going to take a lot to stop me from playing.