Lakers Lose Kobe Bryant Again

Kobe Bryant is expected to miss six weeks with a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday.

Bryant suffered the injury Tuesday night during the visiting Lakers’ 96-92 victory over theMemphis Grizzlies. An MRI exam Thursday revealed that Bryant played for a half against the Grizzlies with the break.

The news is an undeniable blow to the Lakers, who in late November signed Bryant to a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension before the 35-year-old had made it back onto the court from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the playoffs last April.

“It’s too bad,” coach Mike D’Antoni said at the team’s practice Thursday. “You hate it for Kobe. He worked so hard to get back. But he’ll be back. He’ll be back in six weeks, and we’ll deal with it and weather the storm until he gets back.”

Bryant entered the 2013-14 campaign hoping to become the first player to rupture an Achilles and make it all the way back to All-Star status since Dominique Wilkins in 1992-93.

He returned to the court Dec. 8 — in the Lakers’ 20th game of the season — and has averaged 13.8 points and 6.3 assists in six games for a team that entered Thursday’s play at 12-13 and in 11th place in the Western Conference.

Story by Ramona Shelburne | ESPNLosAngeles.com

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