Kobe Bryant to return against Suns

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will return to the starting lineup Sunday against the Phoenix Suns after sitting out three games to rest.

"[Bryant] came in and he got some shots up [Saturday], got some shots up this morning, says he feels a whole lot better," Lakers coach Byron Scott said after a morning shootaround, according to the team's official website. "[He's] ready to go. He's gonna get more shots up this evening when we get to the arena. So he'll be ready to go."

Scott said he'd like to limit Bryant to around 30 or so minutes of playing time after the 36-year-old had been complaining of fatigue and soreness in recent weeks. Bryant, in his 19th NBA season, is averaging a team-high 35.4 minutes per game.

The Lakers went 1-2 without the future Hall of Famer, with the one win a surprise victory over the NBA-best Golden State Warriors.