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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Bryant suffered severe back spasms


Kobe Bryant left the game late in the third quarter and went to the locker room with what a team official termed severe back spasms. It was bad enough that he didn't even attempt a shot while playing all but 38 seconds of the third quarter. Pau Gasol missed his fifth straight game with a hamstring injury.

Los Angeles is 2-3 without Gasol and 8-6 on the road. The Lakers will be on the road again Wednesday at Dallas, and Phil Jackson thinks Gasol won't be back until Friday against the Clippers.

Bryant, who Jackson said will probably play in Dallas, appeared to become lame as early as the first quarter. Despite shooting 7-for-10 in the first half, he looked shaky at times in the open floor.