The Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets will open their respective campaigns in the 2014-15 NBA season when they collide at Staples Center on Tuesday.

Kobe Bryant will make his official return after missing the majority of last season due to a knee injury, and the 18-year veteran said that he is excited to get back on the court after another long layoff.

"It's step one of a long journey," Bryant said via ESPN Los Angeles after Monday's practice. "I'm excited to get back out there. I can't say I haven't missed the game. I've missed it so much."

Byron Scott, who will be making his debut as Lakers head coach, believes that Bryant, who averaged 13.8 points to go along with 6.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in six games last season, is ready to play 30-40 minutes for the team after performing well in training camp.

"I think the rust, every day, came off a little bit more," Scott said of Bryant. "The last preseason game that he played, he looked really good, as far as his fadeaway, his elevation, his stamina."

Aside from Bryant, star point guard Jeremy Lin, who will start for the Lakers on Tuesday, is also expected to have a share of the spotlight as he will be going up against his former team, who traded him to the Lakers in the offseason.

Lin, who started in only 33 games for the Rockets last season after being overtaken by Patrick Beverley in their depth chart, reiterated, though, that facing his former team is not a big deal for him.

The 26-year-old point guard reiterated that the focus will be on Bryant and Rockets center Dwight Howard, who had a tumultuous relationship in Los Angeles two seasons ago.

"I'm trying not to build this game up, make it any bigger than it is," Lin said via ESPN. "The headline's Kobe vs. Dwight."

The Lakers-Rockets match is scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcasted live on TNT. NBA fans can also catch the action through online live stream via this link.

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