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Bryant due to return from suspension when Lakers meet Celtics

Jan 31, 2007 - 5:15 PM LA Lakers (27-18) at Boston (12-32) 7:30 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles were reminded of the void Kobe Bryant leaves when he is unable to play.

The league's No. 4 scorer, Bryant is expected to return from a one-game suspension Wednesday when the Lakers look to snap a three-game skid against the woeful Boston Celtics.

Averaging 28.4 points this season, Bryant was not allowed to play Tuesday against the New York Knicks for throwing an elbow at Manu Ginobili in Sunday's defeat against the San Antonio Spurs.

With Bryant unavailable, the Lakers lacked some scoring punch down the stretch in Tuesday's 99-94 loss to the Knicks. Lamar Odom scored 25 points and Vladimir Radmanovic added 18 for Los Angeles, which was outrebounded, 48-33.

Part of the league's most dynamic rivalry of the 1980s, the Lakers meet a Boston squad that has dropped 12 in a row and is looking to avoid tying the franchise record for longest losing streak.

The Celtics are coming of Tuesday's 103-96 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Al Jefferson scored 15 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Gerald Green added 14 points for Boston, which managed just 13 points in both the second and third quarters.

Los Angeles has won five of the last seven meetings against the Celtics. The teams split their two meetings last season.