Before Monday’s 128-107 rout of the Suns by the Lakers, the L.A. Times reported that Kobe Bryant had a “significant amount of fluid drained from his swollen right knee." That explains why he didn’t practice during the Lakers’ six-day layoff before the series.
Phil Jackson confirmed that Kobe did have his knee drained but wouldn’t get any more specific than to say “It happened some time ago.”
If his 40-point performance in any indication, it won’t be much of a problem for Bryant in the time being.