Kobe Bryant did not practice Tuesday, but might play tonight if his ankle feels strong enough in the morning shootaround. At most, the injury would force him to miss a game or two, rather than several weeks as he initially feared.

Bryant injured the ankle when he went up for an off-balance shot and landed on the foot of Indiana center Jeff Foster. Bryant winced in pain, but was able to walk off the court and later returned to the bench.

"It scared the hell out of me," Bryant said after Tuesday's practice. "When it first happened I thought I would be out two-and-a-half or three weeks. I heard it pop and everything."

The sprain is described as moderate.