OKLAHOMA CITY -- Desperate to get over .500 for the first time since November, the Lakers were dealt a blow early Tuesday night against the Thunder.

A very mysterious blow, though.

On a play that didn't appear to have much contact, Kobe Bryant injured his right elbow and immediately exited the game and headed to the locker room. He checked back in a few minutes later, but noticeably favored the arm, using his left hand to dribble, to high-five, to rebound and to pass. Basically, he went lefty on everything but shooting.

"I got popped on that nerve," Bryant said. "It's the exact reason why I wear the sleeve to protect that thing. I just got popped right on that button."

Said Mike D'Antoni: "It's like when you hit a nerve on your crazy bone and it gets hit really hard and it doesn't just go away. It stings. Hopefully tomorrow it'll be OK and it'll calm down, but obviously it bothered him tonight."

Kobe spent most of the game flexing and grimacing with the elbow, in obvious discomfort.

"Every time you try to bend your elbow, extend it, there's a little resistence and just a lot of pain," he said. "You just try to adjust. You've got to adjust your shooting mechanics. Wasn't able to hold my follow-through too much but you just got to adjust to it and go from there."

Despite it, Bryant scored 30 points on 8-19 shooting, included 11-12 from the free-throw line. Kobe's toughness is pretty much legendary, but the guy is just incredibly resilient, especially considering the circumstances this Lakers team is in.

"I'm going to keep playing," Bryant said. "This is a critical part of the season, to say the least, so I'm going to play."

The loss to Oklahoma City dropped the Lakers below .500 again at 30-31, damaging their playoff hopes a bit. They've battled injuries all season long but the one constant has been the brilliance of Bryant. Anything that removes him from the equation could be catastrophic. But as we all know, Kobe is playing. Especially considering the situation.

"It could be broken in two places and he'll play and he'll play well," D'Antoni said.

The Lakers travel to New Orleans on Wednesday night, less than 24 hours after coming up short to the Thunder. They're banged up with Bryant's elbow, Dwight Howard's shoulder and Pau Gasol still out another 2-4 weeks with a foot injury. Time is slipping away and coming off a loss in OKC, the Lakers can't afford to give another one away, injuries or not.

"The league is not going to feel sorry for us," D'Antoni said. "We got to go get one."