After a fourth-quarter comeback bid had it roaring, a sold-out crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center hushed up in a hurry when Kobe Bryant chased a loose ball and slipped at mid-court, dislocating his finger while trying to avoid falling.
“It was kind of out and to the side, and the other part was going the other way,” Bryant said after the Lakers’ loss to San Antonio.
The 18-time All-Star wasn’t concerned about the pain, but rather how severe the injury appeared, saying his finger looked like the letter ’S.’
Bryant grimaced as he walked over to trainer Gary Vitti, who began to apply more athletic tape to his right shooting hand.