Lakers Coach Byron Scott rests Kobe Bryant for Orlando Magic game

Lakers Coach Byron Scott kept Kobe Bryant out of the lineup for Friday night’s game against the Orlando Magic so that Bryant again could get more rest.

Scott said the decision had nothing to do with Bryant shooting two for 12 from the field while scoring only four points in the Lakers’ 114-89 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday night.

“No, just rest,� Scott said before the Lakers (11-25) played the Magic (13-25) at Staples Center.

“Talked to [Bryant] a little bit today, asked him how felt, he said he felt OK, I said, ‘OK, you’ll rest tonight,’ � Scott said, adding he wanted to hear “conviction that [Bryant] feels great and I didn’t feel that today.�

“He didn’t fight me on it,� Scott said. “He stuck to his word as far as allowing me to make that decision for him, and I just thought tonight would be another good night for him to rest.�

Scott said his starting lineup would be Ronnie Price, Wayne Ellington, Ed Davis, Jordan Hill and Ryan Kelly.

This will be the fifth game Bryant has missed under Scott’s plans to give the 36-year-old Bryant more rest.

Bryant missed three consecutive games from Dec. 23-26 and also sat out last Monday’s game against Portland. The Lakers were 1-3 in the previous four games he missed.