In what could be a devastating blow for the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff chances, Kobe Bryant injured his ankle while attempting a game-tying shot in Atlanta in the final seconds of Wednesday’s loss and is out indefinitely.
The Lakers announced Bryant was out indefinitely with an ankle sprain.
With the Lakers trailing 94-92, Bryant attempted the game-tying shot and landed on Dahntay Jones’ foot and crumpled to the floor in obvious pain after missing the jumper.
Bryant was not happy after the game with defenders going underneath shooters.
“#dangerousplay that should have been called. Period,” Bryant tweeted after the game.
The Lakers, after struggling for much of the year, had just taken sole possession of the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. They are a half game ahead of Utah and tied with the Jazz in the loss column, but if Bryant is unable to play for a prolonged period of time, the Lakers may spiral downward for Bryant has been carrying the team during the last two weeks after he guaranteed Los Angeles would make the playoffs.
According to ESPN, Bryant would not speculate on whether he was thinking about even attempting to play on Friday against Indiana, but he left the stadium without the aid of crutches. Bryant finished the game with 31 points.
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