Tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET the Los Angeles Lakers (12-13) will host the back end of an ESPN double-header when the Minnesota Timberwolves (13-13) step onto the Staples Center court in Western Conference action that can be live streamed here free. Lakers fans can hear the game on 710 ESPN, while Wolves fans can follow along on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
The Lakers are reeling from news that Kobe Bryant's return to the court was short-lived; he will miss at least the next six weeks after suffering a fractured knee. "You hate it for Kobe," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters after practice Thursday. "He's worked so hard to get back, but he'll be back. He'll be back in six weeks. We've just got to weather the storm until he gets back."
Kobe's news comes with a side of more injury-related sadness. Point guard Steve Nash is set to miss an additional four weeks with nerve root irritation that has not subsided.
"It's hard to get this type of news, especially when we've got already so many injuries, when we've been through so many injuries the year before," Pau Gasol said. "It just keeps piling up. It's not the best thing for us, for sure, but we've just got to continue to go forward. We understand it can happen." Gasol was recently removed from the trading block, likely because he will be counted on going forward to carry the team.
He will be up against Kevin Love, one of the league's premier stars who enters play averaging 25.2 points and 13.7 rebounds a game. Wolves point guard Ricky Rubio referred to his star teammate as "awesome," and said, "There's no words to describe. He's doing a great job leading this team in scoring, rebounding, even assisting. He's taking my job."
On Wednesday Minny was able to topple the Portland Trailblazers behind 30 points and nine rebounds from Nikola Pekovic. The combo of Pekovic and Love could be a handful for the depleted Lake Show.
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