Kobe Bryant suffered an apparent right arm injury during Tuesday night's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder and was forced to exit in the first quarter.
Kobe Bryant injury: Lakers star exits after hurting elbow vs. Thunder
The injury has been called an ulnar nerve contusion, and his return is questionable.
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The injury occurred in the first quarter, and he immediately headed into the Chesapeake Energy Arena locker room.
The injury is said to be an ulnar nerve contusion according to Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register, and his return is questionable. For all intents and purposes, it’s the equivalent to what’s commonly referred to as a stinger.
A prolonged or even short-term loss of Bryant would have major implications for Los Angeles. The Lakers are at the .500 mark for the first time in 2013, and their chances to go above that mark in a tough environment on the road would dwindle substantially without him on the floor.
Oklahoma City has beaten the Lakers five straight times in their own building, including three times in the playoffs.
Bryant has returned to the bench as of the 4:11 mark in the first quarter.
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