Monday, May 12, 2008 - 05:00
AFP News Briefs List
Bryant injures back in Lakers loss to Jazz in NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers' 123-115 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association playoffs left superstar Kobe Bryant with an aching back.
The newly crowned league Most Valuable Player, Bryant is listed as day to day for game five in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The best-of-seven series is tied at 2-2 after the home team won all of the first four games.
Bryant led all scorers with 33 points, but tweaked his back on the second possession of the game while taking a turnaround jump shot.
He said resulting back spasms hindered him for the rest of the game, and he scored just eight points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
"You've got to make some adjustments," said Bryant, who gave his post-game press conference standing up. "You can't run like you want to, cut like you want to."
Despite his low output in the late stages, Bryant didn't blame his back.
"No excuses for me," Bryant said. "(Andrei Kirilenko) did a great job, (he's a) great defensive player. They just did a terrific job. They made the plays when they needed to."
