By TOM WITHERS – Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Wearing a black brace on his injured right hand, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant sat out the Western Conference’s light practice on Saturday but still expects to start in Sunday’s NBA All-Star game.

Bryant, the MVP in last year’s game, has a torn pinkie ligament from dislocating the finger on Feb. 5 in a game against New Jersey. Although surgery has been recommended, Bryant wants to keep playing and postpone any operation until after the Beijing Olympics in August.

While his teammates broke a sweat doing some half-speed drills and shooting during a 25-minute workout, Bryant sat on the bench. At the end of practice, Bryant heaved up one shot — left-handed.

Bryant would prefer not to play Sunday night, but he doesn’t have a choice. League policy dictates that if a player is healthy enough to play in the final game before the All-Star break and the first one after, he has too play in the midseason event.

During media availability, Bryant said he would start for the West squad but doesn’t expect to play much. He understands the importance of not risking injury to help the Lakers in the second half of the season.

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