Wed, Jan 14, 2004 page20

• Bryant reinjures right shoulder

  • AP
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  Kobe Bryant joined fellow Lakers superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone on the sidelines after spraining his surgically repaired right shoulder in Los Angeles' 89-79 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

  That leaves Gary Payton as the only healthy Lakers star.

  

  Allen Iverson, right, of the 76ers, drives past Tyronn Lue of the Magic during the second quarter in Orlando, Florida, Monday.

  PHOTO: AP

  Bryant was injured late in the first quarter and sat out the second half. Team spokesman John Black called Bryant's injury a sprained acromio clavicular joint and said the star guard would have an exam Tuesday.

  "We don't know the status -- we'll know more about that tomorrow," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

  The Lakers were already short-handed, playing their fifth game without O'Neal (strained right calf) and ninth without Malone (sprained knee ligament).

  O'Neal said before the game he was getting better and close to playing again -- perhaps Wednesday night against Denver. Malone is eligible to come off the injured list for that game, but isn't expected to.

  Bryant issued a brief statement after the game through Black, but didn't mention the injury.

  "Whenever we step on the court right now, to be realistic, we're going to be underdogs to a lot of teams, except Atlanta," said 38-year-old Horace Grant, who usually backs up O'Neal but has been starting in his spot.

  The Lakers (23-11) had lost four straight before beating the Hawks 113-67 on Friday.

  Payton and rookie Brian Cook scored 13 points each, Devean George had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Slava Medvedenko added 11 points for the Lakers.

  Zydrunas Ilgauskas led Cleveland with 19 points and eight rebounds. LeBron James had 16 points and seven assists, but committed six turnovers. Carlos Boozer had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers (11-26), who lost for the seventh time in nine games.

  In other NBA games, Dallas held off New York 127-121 in overtime, Memphis outlasted Golden State 115-113 in double overtime, and Philadelphia beat Orlando 87-82.

  The Lakers won by outscoring the Cavaliers 29-14 in the fourth quarter, shooting 10-of-20 to Cleveland's 5-of-20.

  The 19-year-old James missed all five shots he took in the final period and was 6-of-20 overall.

  "We didn't have a go-to guy and if you don't at this point, you are not going to win very many games," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said.

  Said James: "That's how he feels. Sometimes, we have a couple of go-to guys, and that might be the problem. Down the stretch, I think we should establish a go-to guy, just like he said."

  Bryant was injured with 5.7 seconds left in the first quarter when he faked Cleveland's Kedrick Brown into the air outside the 3-point line and Brown landed on Bryant's shoulder.

  In obvious pain, Bryant made three free throws, but left after the period ended and went to the locker room for X-rays, which were negative.

  Bryant returned with 7 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter, but was clearly not himself. His only shot was a left-handed jumper from outside the foul line that didn't come close, and he left for good after playing a little over five minutes.

  Bryant was again taken to the locker room and didn't return. He finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes.

  Jackson said Bryant asked to return to the game in the second quarter.

  "When he shot the left-handed shot, I realized it was time to move somebody else in there, get him out of the ballgame," Jackson said. "I was willing to let him have a chance."

  Bryant had surgery on his shoulder on June 12 -- four weeks after the Lakers were eliminated from the second round of the playoffs by San Antonio.

  He had an inflamed bursa removed and a frayed labrum trimmed in his shoulder during the operation.

  Mavericks 127, Knicks 121, OT

  At New York, Dirk Nowitzki had 31 points and 10 rebounds, and Dallas beat the Knicks after squandering a 20-point lead.

  The Mavericks overcame Stephon Marbury's best performance with New York in the game that featured a six-point comeback by the Knicks in the final 10.7 seconds of regulation.

  Marbury had 38 points and 14 assists, and Allan Houston added 29 points for the Knicks, who lost for the fifth time in six games.

  Steve Nash had 28 points for Dallas on 12-for-16 shooting, Michael Finley scored 25, Antawn Jamison added 23 and Antoine Walker had 14 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

  Grizzlies 115, Warriors 113, 2OT

  At Oakland, California, Shane Battier scored six of his 14 points in the second OT, including the go-ahead basket, and Memphis won its second straight road game after losing eight in a row.

  Mike Miller led the Grizzlies with 24 points. Erick Dampier had a season-high 23 points, 22 rebounds and a season-high seven blocks for Golden State.

  76ers 87, Magic 82

  At Orlando, Florida, Allen Iverson scored 26 points and Philadelphia survived fourth-quarter shooting problems.

  The 76ers missed 14 of 17 shots in the final quarter, including their last 10, but made eight of 10 late free throws. Tracy McGrady had 32 points and 10 rebounds for Orlando.
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