LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers lost Kobe Bryant to a sprained
left ankle in the first quarter of Friday night's Game 2 against the Indiana
Pacers, and his status for the rest of the NBA Finals is day-to-day.
The Lakers said X-rays on Bryant's ankle were negative, but that he would
not return to Friday night's game.
He sprained the ankle when he made a 12-foot jumper and came down on the
foot of Indiana's Jalen Rose. Bryant remained on the floor briefly, got up and
hopped on his right foot in obvious pain when his left touched the floor.
The Lakers, up 1-0 in the series, led 22-20 at the time, then made another
basket before timeout was called with 3:05 left in the period and Bryant
hobbled off. The game was tied at 28 at the end of the first period.
Bryant had two points and four assists when he left the game.
He is averaging 22.3 points and a team-high 4.5 assists for the Lakers
during the playoffs.
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