It's looking more and more like the All-Star Game will be without one of its brightest lights, a PR hit the NBA really can't afford right now. In other words, a potential lineup with Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Steve Nash and Tim Duncan needs Kobe Bryant more on Sunday than a lineup that included Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga did Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz.

That latter group did just fine, like every other combination coach Phil Jackson threw out on the court in the Lakers' 96-81 victory over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, their final game before the All-Star break. It was the Lakers' third consecutive victory without Bryant, who has a sprained left ankle, and their success makes him feel better about having to sit out ... and only strengthens the argument for him missing the All-Star game Sunday.

"I don't miss games, so if I miss games I want to make sure that I'm ready," Bryant said. "I don't want to miss them in vain. Guys are playing so well, there's no need for me to rush."

The Lakers' thought process is that if he doesn't play in the All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium, he will have had 10 days off before their regular season resumes with a game against Golden State on Feb. 16. They think that should be sufficient recovery time. If he plays Sunday, he could aggravate the injury and reset the clock, and Bryant sounds as if he doesn't want to waste the three games he just missed.

Bryant will travel to Dallas to fulfill the multitude of appearances, media obligations and promotions that come with a spot on the All-Star roster. He won't make a commitment beyond that.

He has formulated a standard line, which he first put to use Monday in reference to both the Jazz game and the All-Star game: "If it's healthy, I'll play."

Expect him to repeat that about 100 times during Friday's 45-minute media session.

Bryant said the ankle is "a little bit" better than it was after teammate Lamar Odom stepped on it and caused it to roll in a 99-97 victory over Charlotte last Wednesday.

"I can put a little bit of pressure on it," Bryant said. "There's no need for me to rush."

When you hear Bryant preaching patience, you know he has accepted the need for him to sit down. The Lakers sound as if they'll trust Bryant's judgment. According to Jackson, it was Bryant who came to him and proposed sitting out the game in Portland on Saturday, which ended Bryant's string of 235 consecutive games played. Jackson had the sense after the team's shootaround Wednesday that Bryant wouldn't play, and when the media was allowed in the locker room 90 minutes before the game, Bryant was stretched out on a trainer's table, wearing a black sweatsuit, his arms covering his face, looking far from someone who was about to play in the game.

"I want him to do what's right for him," Jackson said. "If he's 100 percent and he feels like he's right to play, then play. If it's not, then he shouldn't play in the game. It obviously wasn't right, he couldn't play in these last three games we played, so he should measure that.

"I think he could've [played in Utah], but it would've aggravated it, and why? He's got a period of almost a week to rest."

He gets a week only if he doesn't play in the All-Star Game, which is another implication that he won't.

It would be a huge blow to the annual spectacle, which is expanding to an even bigger size this year in the venue of the new Cowboys Stadium. Bryant was the leading vote getter in the Western Conference, his name punched or clicked on almost 2.5 million ballots. Fans who buy tickets or turn on the TV want to see No. 24 ... especially after digesting what should be an undercurrent of negative news about labor talks.

One of the qualities that makes Bryant a favorite All-Star selection of the fans is the same thing that would make it risky for him to play: He never goes through the motions. He has been named the MVP of the All-Star Game three times, and he even takes the defensive side seriously.

There are always promotional considerations, as well. The All-Star Game is often the time for national debuts of new shoes, but Bryant's latest Zoom Kobe V Nikes are already out; he's scheduled only to wear a special All-Star color scheme on Sunday.

Bryant has also reached the stage that he understands this game is a chance to give back to the league. And after participating in the All-Star Game 11 times (in addition to the dunk contest and rookie game his first year), he still values the NBA version of the Super Bowl -- even if it doesn't determine a champion.

"I put a lot of significance on it, because you owe a lot to the NBA, a lot to the fans," Bryant said. "It's very important. I don't want to give you the whole song-and-dance, 'As a kid...' and that sort of stuff, but that's the truth of the matter. Even after all these times I've done it. Every time I've played them, I've always played 100 percent. It's always fun for me to play in these games. We'll just have to see how it goes."

From what I saw and heard Wednesday, I don't think he will give it a go Sunday.

J.A. Adande is a columnist for ESPN.com.

ESPN.com writers and TrueHoop Network bloggers chatted with fans and gave their in-game opinions throughout Wednesday's games -- all in Daily Dime Live.