Kobe Bryant dislocates ring finger

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Kobe Bryant dislocated his right ring finger while trying to pry the basketball away from LeBron James early in the first quarter of Monday night’s game between the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center.

Bryant was in obvious pain, but was unable to get an immediate timeout because Cleveland had the basketball. The Cavaliers gathered several offensive rebounds while Bryant was injured.

When time was called, Bryant went to the sideline and team trainer Gary Vitti popped the dislocated finger back into place. The pain clearly was evident on Bryant’s face when Vitti went to work.

Bryant came right back into the game, but he dribbled the basketball with his left hand the first few times down the court.

-- Broderick Turner