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Scott to play Kobe most minutes of season in career finale

Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Basketball fans are paying top dollar to catch a final glimpse of Kobe Bryant during the Los Angeles Lakers' season finale Wednesday night at Staples Center. It sounds like they're going to get their money's worth, at least.

Prior to his team's road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday evening, Lakers head coach Byron Scott told reporters Bryant won't be seeing much of the bench for his last game as an active competitor.

"He'll play more in that game than he has in any all season," Scott said.

Bryant's season high in minutes played is 37 in an 11-point loss to the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 20. He's only exceeded the 30-minute mark once since March 23.

By all indications, the plan is for the Lakers to hand the ball to "The Black Mamba" as much as possible to help him close out his 20-year playing career in style.

The team owns the worst record in the Western Conference at 16-64, and with absolutely nothing to play for, there's really no harm in letting the 18-time All-Star do whatever he sees fit on offense in front of a sold-out crowd that is only there to see him shoot to his heart's content.

If Bryant is going out, he's doing so guns blazing.

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