Kobe Bryant played through the pain of a broken finger to score 20 points and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 104-92 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Bryant suffered a small break on the index finger of his right hand in the opening quarter when he was reaching for a pass. Doctors said the “avulsion fracture” is where bone fragments break away near a tendon or ligament.
Bryant still managed to score 20 points in 33 minutes of playing time with his finger heavily bandaged in the second half.
“It is painful, but I played through it,” Bryant said. “It is pretty numb, pretty sore.”
Bryant said he tried to choose shots and plays where he didn’t have to put too much stress on the broken digit.
“When things like this happen you have to be able to go to another weapon,” he said.
Bryant played briefly in the second quarter before going to the locker room at halftime to get more treatment.
He got back into the game in the second half, hitting three baskets including a three pointer in the first few minutes of the third.
■CAVS V TRAIL BLAZERS
AFP, CLEVELAND, OHIO
LeBron James had 33 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the injury-riddled Portland Trail Blazers 104-99.
Anderson Varejao scored a season-high 22 points for Cleveland, who rebounded from a pair of losses to Houston and Memphis.
In those games, Cleveland committed a total of 41 turnovers. Cleveland had just 16 against Portland.
James also had a brilliant block on a shot by Brandon Roy in the closing seconds.
Varejao had 10 rebounds and Shaquille O’Neal finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Cleveland’s giant center O’Neal got poked in the eye during the third quarter by Joel Przybilla as he was making a shot and had to leave the game.
The team said O’Neal had a bruised eye but did not give details of the injury.
He went to a Cleveland clinic for tests but was expected to join his teammates for a trip to Oklahoma yesterday.
Varejao and Mo Williams both played with stomach illness. Williams had 10 assists.
Roy scored 23, LaMarcus Aldridge 22 and Andre Miller 20 for Portland, who had just nine players because of injuries.
■SUNS V MAGIC
REUTERS, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
The Phoenix Suns improved to a perfect 8-0 at home with a down-to-the-wire 106-103 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday.
Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and slam dunked a crucial offensive rebound with 6.9 seconds left to help the Suns fend off the Magic.
Steve Nash added 20 points and 18 assists as Phoenix (16-7) remained the only team in the NBA without a loss at home.
Rashard Lewis led Orlando with 24 points and Mickael Pietrus had 23 for the visitors, who battled back from down 14 points in the third quarter.
Orlando led by one with 1:23 left before a jump shot by Grant Hill put the Suns on top 104-103 with 1:08 remaining.
The Magic had a missed shot and a turnover on their next two possessions before Stoudemire sealed the game with his big rebound putback.
Friday’s other results:
• Mavericks 106, Heat 93
• Hawks 111, Raptors 89
• Thunder 102, Grizzlies 94
• Spurs 104, Bobcats 85
• Knicks 113, Hornets 96
• Rockets 96, 76ers 91
• Bulls 96, Warriors 91, OT
• Pacers 107, Nets 91
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