Paul George says he'll be disappointed if Kobe Bryant doesn't play Friday against the Pacers. (Photo: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports) INDIANAPOLIS — No Kobe? The Indiana Pacers will believe it when they don't see it Friday night. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is listed as "out indefinitely" with a severely sprained left ankle suffered in a Wednesday night loss at Atlanta. But the Pacers are preparing as if the 15-time NBA All-Star will play. "I knew the Lakers. I still know Kobe," said assistant coach Brian Shaw, a Lakers assistant from 2004-11. "I've seen him come back from some injuries that you would never think he would be able to come back from the next game. If anybody can bounce back from something like that, he can." KOBE'S STATUS: Still uncertain for Friday NBA RULING: Foul should've been called Bankers Life Fieldhouse is sold out and fans can't get their money back if Bryant misses one of the more popular matchups each year. "It has no impact on us whatsoever," said David Benner, Pacers director of basketball media relations. "In sports, define indefinitely." The Pacers (40-24) are coming off a 107-91 home win over Minnesota on Wednesday and beat the Lakers 79-77 in the only other meeting this season as George Hill hit a buzzer-beating floater on Nov. 27 at Los Angeles. After struggling for much of the season, the Lakers (34-32) were on a roll with nine wins in 11 games prior to the loss to the Hawks. Bryant tweeted his Thursday regimen: Compression. Ice. Django. Zero Dark Thirty. This is Forty and 1 hour of sleep. #countonwill#countonhaters. On to the next. — Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 14, 2013 Pacers leading scorer Paul George said he will be disappointed if Bryant doesn't play. "I wanted to have a chance and an opportunity to go against Kobe," George said after Thursday's practice. "It's always fun going against the elite guys. "(But) nothing really seems to sit him out. I've still got the mindset that he's going to be on the floor (Friday) night. He's had worse injuries than an ankle sprain, I think, that still doesn't sit him out. He just wants to compete so much. With them being in the hunt now, I think that's even more motivation for him to play." PHOTO: Kobe tweets shot of his swollen ankle WATCH: Foul or no foul? Tell us what you think The 22-year-old George has blossomed into one of the league's young stars as a first-time NBA All-Star. He grew up in Palmdale, Calif., which meant watching Bryant win five titles. Bryant at 34 is still one of the league's top scorers. "That's all I wanted to watch was Kobe," George said. "Growing up, he really was a big idol for me. I really enjoyed the game because of him." Kobe Bryant is officially listed as "out indefinitely," but the Pacers are preparing to face the Lakers with Bryant in the lineup. (Photo: Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports) If Bryant doesn't suit up, it's not like the Lakers have nothing else. Center Dwight Howard scored a season-high 39 points in Tuesday's road win against his former team, Orlando. Point guard Steve Nash is one of the league's best ball-handlers. "More spread pick-and-rolls for Nash and Howard?" said Pacers coach Frank Vogel. "That's not an interesting proposition, either. That's every bit as lethal. "(Howard's) every center in the league's biggest challenge." Phillip B. Wilson writes for The Indianapolis Star, a Gannett affiliate. Follow Phillip on Twitter @pwilson24. Story Highlights
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