By John Nadel
Associated Press
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. ó Kobe Bryant met the media Monday with a new companion ó an electronic stimulation device hooked up to his sore lower back.
Plans call for the two to spend a lot of time together for the next couple of days, or longer.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ star tweaked his back in the opening minutes of Sunday’s 123-115 overtime loss at Utah that tied the Western Conference semifinals 2-2.
“It’s pretty sore right now,” Bryant said Monday. “It’s tight. It’s to be expected the next day, I guess. I don’t know how I made it through the game, to be honest with you.”
Bryant said he was receiving treatment around the clock.
“Secret stuff,” he replied with a smile when asked to be specific about the treatment.
Regarding the electronic stimulating device, Bryant said he had slept with it on Sunday night.
“It cuts down the pain,” he said. “How, I don’t know.”
The teams play Game 5 in the best-of-seven series Wednesday night at Staples Center, where the Lakers are 16-3 against the Jazz since the arena opened before the 1999-2000 season.