Lakers Lose Bryant For Another Six Weeks

A knee injury will sideline Kobe Bryant for another six weeks just days after returning to action.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without perennial All-Star Kobe Bryant for another six weeks after the veteran guard suffered a knee injury in Tuesday’s 96-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bryant hit the floor during the third quarter of that game and was slow to get up. He shrugged off the initial discomfort to finish the game but an MRI by the Lakers’ medical team revealed a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee.

Recovery time for the injury, which will not require surgery, is expected to be six weeks.

Bryant has already missed the majority of the season as he recovered from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in the same leg. His return on December 8 was accompanied by much fanfare and anticipation, but any pomp and ceremony will now be put on hold just six games into his return.

Bryant, who signed a $48.5 million contract extension last month, remains optimistic, tweeting his near-4 million followers on Twitter: “#BrokenNotBeaten”.

The Lakers front office is less likely to be so positive. The team is currently without guards Steve Nash (back), Steve Blake (elbow) and Jordan Farmar (hamstring), leaving a massive black hole in the backcourt.

Nash, who like Bryant has played just six games this season, will miss another four weeks at least, it was revealed this week.

Yahoo Sports reports that the Lakers have signed guard Kendall Marshall from the D-League’s Delaware 87ers, giving the team another body in the backcourt at least. The question now then is will general manager Mitch Kupchak look to make a deal for Iman Shumpert or find another guard to bring into the mix?

Not everybody is saddened by news of Bryant’s injury. Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke described the injury as “the best thing for everyone.”

Plaschke argues that the Lakers can “tank without tanking” and begin the rebuilding process that is so badly needed in the purple and gold corridors of the Staples Center.

A lottery finish this season is bound to reap rewards in a draft that is expected to include the likes of Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Marcus Smart and a ton of other talent. Meanwhile, Bryant can rest up and return in 2014 at as close to full strength as possible, which will at least give him the opportunity  to earn that lucrative contract.

But for now at least, the Lakers will continue to plod away looking to stay afloat in the tough-as-nails Western Conference.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers odds for 12/20/2013

The Lakers (12-13, 6-6 home) will begin this next phase without Kobe Bryant by hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves (13-13, 5-9 road) at Staples Center on Friday night (10:30 p.m. ET).

The Timberwolves open as the favorite over the banged-up Lakers.

Minnesota defeated the Lakers 113-90 at Staples Center on November 10, snapping an astounding 22-game losing streak against the Lakers. With the Lakers sporting a makeshift backcourt, the Wolves could be looking at a second straight win in the head-to-head series.

The spread opened at 5 and has climbed to 6.

The Lakers (15-10-0 ATS) have covered the spread in two of the last three but just three of the last eight. Minnesota (14-12-0 ATS) meanwhile has covered in four of the last six.

The Timberwolves are 4-2-0 ATS in their last six against the Lakers and 6-2-0 ATS in their last six contests against the Lakers at Staples Center.

The over/under opened at 212 and has subsequently dropped to 210.

The Lakers (14-11-0) have favored the over this season while the Wolves (12-14-0) have favored the under. However, both sides have seen the total go under in two of their last three games.

The total has gone under in eight of the last 11 games played between the sides in Los Angeles.

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