Kobe Bryant said Wednesday during the Lakers game against Golden State that he will return Friday as L.A. travels to San Antonio.

Kobe has missed seven games because of an inflamed shin. Without Kobe, the Lakers have gone 5-2. Bryant said earlier in the week that his absence may have had a positive effect on the Lakers as some of the role players on the team were forced to step up.

The Lakers are hanging on to the Pacific Division by a game over the Clippers right now and Kobe's rest might be a case of them holding him out until they really need him. The Lakers own the tiebreaker over the Clippers and it would take a pretty substantial slip to lose the division and three-seed.

Obviously Kobe wants to get a few games back before the playoffs start in a week. The Lakers have three games left -- at San Antonio, home against the Thunder and at Sacramento.