KOBE LIKELY OUT A WHILE MRI FINDS LIGAMENT DAMAGE.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Kobe Bryant joked about a restless night spent watching ``The Chronicles of Riddick'' and ``Dodgeball'' while his severely sprained right ankle swelled to the limits of its wrapping.

Then he suggested calling the Lakers' locker room at halftime of tonight's game against the Golden State Warriors, just to check up on the guys, and ``hopefully, we'll be up by 20 or something like that.''

The one thing that wasn't a laughing matter Friday was the length of time - still measured in weeks, plural - before Bryant's return to the court.

He likely will go on the injured list today and be sidelined a minimum of five games and 11 days after injuring his ankle in the first quarter Thursday night against Cleveland and needing to be carried to the locker room.

Bryant underwent an MRI test on Friday and said he suffered ligament damage but no tears. He will be reevaluated Monday, after swelling decreases, with the Lakers reserving until then an official announcement on how long Bryant will be out.

``It was pretty fortunate, actually,'' Bryant said. ``The way I rolled over on it, it could have been much worse.''

Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said the Lakers would send Bryant to the injured list and activate rookie guard Tony Bobbitt to take his place. A team spokesman said such a decision had not been made, and Bryant said it might not take place until Monday.

Should he head to the injured list today, Bryant would be eligible to return Jan. 26 against the Clippers. He did not travel to the Bay Area and could be replaced by 20-year-old rookie Sasha Vujacic in the starting lineup against the Warriors.

``It's not about me,'' Bryant said. ``I feel like I'm still competing because we as a team are out there competing. I still feel I'm a part of the game even though I'm not in the game.''

Before Bryant appeared before reporters on crutches, the rest of the Lakers began preparation for life without their star shooting guard, the NBA's second-leading scorer and the $136.4 million franchise cornerstone.

``You ever play poker?'' Tomjanovich said. ``You take the hand you're dealt and you play with it. You don't worry about what if I'd gotten this or what if I'd gotten that.''

Added Lamar Odom: ``I think as a unit, of course, we want him to be out there. But in a way, I think everyone's almost looking forward to see what they can do, how they can help this team.''

The Lakers were reluctant to set a timetable for Bryant's return, in part because Bryant so often beats those initial projections. This injury might be different.

After elevating to secure a rebound, Bryant came down on the right foot of Cleveland's Ira Newble and fell to the floor in a heap. He has sprained his right ankle twice before in his career, costing him a total of six games.

``It was the first injury I've ever had (where) it didn't even cross my mind coming back into the game,'' Bryant said.

Tomjanovich has options for filling Bryant's spot in the lineup. He could start Jumaine Jones at small forward and shift Caron Butler to shooting guard. He likely will turn to Vujacic if Golden State's Jason Richardson does not play.

The Lakers traded Kareem Rush, Bryant's backup the past two seasons, to the expansion Charlotte Bobcats in December.

Odom and Butler, former Miami Heat teammates, will be counted on to pick up the slack from Bryant's 27.5 points- and 20.6 shots-per-game averages. Before he went down, Bryant had taken nearly twice as many shots this season as any other Laker.

``We're going to come out fighting,'' said Bryant, who has battled plantar fasciitis in his left foot all season. ``I think that's been an identity of this team.''

The Lakers (19-15) entered Friday in sixth place in the Western Conference. Tomjanovich was asked if merely holding onto that spot with Bryant out would be an acceptable goal.

``Should you be satisfied with treading water?'' Tomjanovich said. ``Maybe. But I don't even like to think that way.''

Bryant said he will continue to ice the ankle, wear a protective air cast and keep as much pressure on it as possible. Tomjanovich said he had been through similar situations with Hakeem Olajuwon, who twice spent more than a month on the injured list in Houston.

``It happens all the time in this league,'' Tomjanovich said. ``We will miss him greatly. But it also gives us an opportunity to grow as a team.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) BRYANT

Box:

LAKERS at GOLDEN STATE

- Ross Siler