Kobe Bryant sits out 3rd straight with sore ankle

(AP) — Kobe Bryant missed the Los Angeles Lakers' final game before the All-Star break with a sore left ankle.

Bryant was on the active roster Wednesday night at Utah, but did not dress and was not with the Lakers on the bench. It was the third straight game the Lakers were without Bryant, who said this week he wasn't sure if he would be healthy enough to play in the All-Star game on Sunday.

Bryant originally sprained his ankle on Jan. 29 in Philadelphia and aggravated it last week.

The Lakers also played without center Andrew Bynum, who was inactive with a bruised right hip.