Kobe to be assessed again in 3 weeks

— -- LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant says he's unhappy over continuing pain and swelling in his left knee, a condition that will keep him sidelined for at least three more weeks.

The 18-year veteran, who was examined by a doctor Tuesday, will remain restricted to non-weight-bearing exercises with a heavy emphasis on stationary bike work, a situation that makes him "ready to throw the bike in the damn pool right about now," he said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

"(I'm) down about it," Bryant told the newspaper after the Lakers' 104-92 loss to the NBA-leading Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night. "I didn't know what to expect. It's an injury that I really can't measure so I have no idea what it's supposed to feel like. It's tough. It never really hurt when I was walking on it in the first place, so it's tough to gauge it."

Bryant was re-evaluated by team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo before the game. He'll be evaluated again in three weeks.

The updated timeline effectively ends the debate as to whether Bryant should play in the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans on Feb. 16. Bryant said last week that he felt undeserving of his starting bid and preferred that his spot on the team go to one of the "young guys" who had appeared and excelled in more games this season.

Bryant had previously said he hoped fans wouldn't vote for him, but the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history was elected to the game for the 16th straight time anyway. Assuming Bryant is unable to play in the All-Star Game, the NBA will pick his replacement on the West team. The West coach would pick a new starter.

"It's not something that's kind of on the surface where you can pinpoint and feel the swelling around," he said. "It's deep in there."

The Lakers got more bad news in Tuesday's loss as Pau Gasol was hampered by a groin injury. Gasol finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds despite the setback, marking his ninth straight game with 20-plus points while also hitting double-digit rebounds seven times in that stretch.

"It's been bothering me a little bit but tonight it just started bothering me from the beginning and I just couldn't do anything really explosively," Gasol said after missing the start of the second half while receiving treatment on the groin injury in the locker room. "We tried to loosen it up, we tried to get everything kind of stretched and in place, but we'll see what happens."

Gasol said he did not know if he would be available for Friday's game against the  Charlotte Bobcats.

"We'll see how it feels (Wednesday)," Gasol said. "We'll get to it the next day, we have two days here (without a game) and we'll re-evaluate it on Thursday."

Bryant, sidelined since Dec. 17 with a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee and averaging 13.8 points, 6.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 42.5 percent shooting this season, has missed the Lakers' last 21 games. He missed the Lakers' first 19 games this season because of a torn Achilles in his left leg.

"It's hard to hear that," Gasol said when asked about Bryant's delayed return. "For him first, because I know how much he loves the game and loves to play, and it's hard for us as a team having our best player not healthy and continuing to be injured. I know it's been a rough stretch for him, so, I just hope that he heals well and can come back when he's ready."

The injury situation for the Lakers, who have now lost 17 of 20, was daunting long before Bryant's latest update and Gasol's injury.

Point guard Steve Nash has played just six games this season with nerve problems in his back. The two-time MVP said he is hoping to play Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to the Orange County Register.

Steve Blake, who hasn't played since Dec. 10 with an elbow injury, still isn't cleared for full practices, while fellow point guard Jordan Farmar has been out since New Year's Eve with a hamstring injury.

Swingman Xavier Henry hasn't played in a month while healing a bone bruise in his right knee.

"We're just going to play hard," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We'll get some guys back. The Steves and Farmar should be back pretty soon and, hopefully, X is right around the corner."

ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.