Other NBA news
•The Chicago Bulls have signed reigning MVP Derrick Rose to a five-year contract extension.
The extension, which kicks in next season, was announced Wednesday. It is worth approximately $94 million.
Rose averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds over 81 games last season, the only NBA player last year to rank in the top 10 in both scoring and assists.
•A former Golden State Warriors employee filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against star guard Monta Ellis on Wednesday, alleging Ellis sent her unwanted texts that included a photo of his genitals.
•Trail Blazers center Marcus Camby was ruled out of Wednesday’s preseason finale after tweaking his left knee during warm-ups. Camby will have an MRI today.
What do the Los Angeles Lakers want for Christmas? Kobe Bryant playing in the season opener at home against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls on Christmas Day.
Kobe Bryant didn’t play in Wednesday night’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Clippers because of an injury suffered in the team’s first preseason game on Monday against the Clippers.
The team says Bryant is being listed as day-to-day. The Lakers say an MRI revealed that Bryant had torn a ligament in his right wrist.
“Just from what our trainer (Gary Vitti) tells us, I’m going to hold him out (Wednesday),” coach Mike Brown told ESPN after the team’s shootaround.
Bryant was injured in the third quarter of Monday’s 114-95 loss to the Clippers when his shot was blocked by DeAndre Jordan and he fell to the floor.
He was able to practice Tuesday, but sat out Wednesday’s shootaround after the top portion of his hand continued to cause him pain.
Robert Klapper, an orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, told 710 ESPN Los Angeles’ “Max Marcellus Show” on Wednesday that kind of injury could keep Bryant out three to four weeks depending on the severity of the tear.
“If it’s completely torn, you’re talking about a month out,” Klapper said. “But if it’s just showing up on the MRI as bruising in the ligaments or in the bone, then that’s a different story. Then it’s less of an injury.”
It’s uncertain whether Bryant will be able to play against the Bulls on Sunday.
“I can’t speak to Sunday,” Brown said. “He may practice (today), he may not. I’ll have a better feel soon.”
The Lakers also will be without starting center Andrew Bynum when the season begins. Bynum won’t be able to play the first five games because of a suspension for a hit on J.J. Barea of the Dallas Mavericks in game four of the Western Conference semifinals last season.
Other NBA news
•The Chicago Bulls have signed reigning MVP Derrick Rose to a five-year contract extension.
The extension, which kicks in next season, was announced Wednesday. It is worth approximately $94 million.
Rose averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds over 81 games last season, the only NBA player last year to rank in the top 10 in both scoring and assists.
•A former Golden State Warriors employee filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against star guard Monta Ellis on Wednesday, alleging Ellis sent her unwanted texts that included a photo of his genitals.
•Trail Blazers center Marcus Camby was ruled out of Wednesday’s preseason finale after tweaking his left knee during warm-ups. Camby will have an MRI today.
| Star news services | The Associated Press