LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant is expected to miss about six weeks with an injured left knee, dealing the second major injury setback of the year to the Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard. An MRI exam on Thursday revealed Bryant has a fracture in his lateral tibial plateau -- the top of his shinbone near his knee. Bryant made his season debut with the Lakers Dec. 8 after nearly eight months away while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. He apparently was hurt again Tuesday night in Memphis while playing his fourth game in five nights. After playing six games in 10 days, the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history is out again until February or longer -- and the Lakers already miserable run of injuries got even uglier. "You hate it for Kobe," Lakers coach Mike DAntoni told reporters after practice Thursday. "Hes worked so hard to get back, but hell be back. Hell be back in six weeks. Weve just got to weather the storm until he gets back." The Lakers also announced Steve Nash will be out for at least four more weeks with nerve root irritation, leaving injury-riddled Los Angeles without its top three point guards and Bryant -- who filled in at the point in recent games -- for at least another week. On Thursday afternoon, a tweet was posted on Bryants official Twitter account that consisted solely of the hashtag: BrokenNotBeaten. "I think hell be back in six weeks, and hell be hunting for some bear," DAntoni said. The rest of the Lakers found out about Bryants injury after practice for Fridays home game against Minnesota. The remnants of the Lakers, who have lost four of six since Bryants return, also will host Miami on Christmas Day. "Its hard to get this type of news, especially when weve got already so many injuries, when weve been through so many injuries the year before," Pau Gasol said. "It just keeps piling up. Its not the best thing for us, for sure, but weve just got to continue to go forward. We understand it can happen." DAntoni immediately faced questions about whether the Lakers allowed Bryant to return too quickly from his torn Achilles tendon. Athletes with an Achilles injury must remain immobile for months, and they typically need several weeks to regain muscle in their legs and get back into game shape. Bryant pushed himself to return to the Lakers quickly, but his left leg appeared to be visibly smaller than his right leg after months of inactivity and atrophy. DAntoni and the Lakers top brass often joke about their inability to control Bryants relentless determination to play, even at the risk of his own health. "It could happen at any time," DAntoni said of Bryants latest injury. "Thats part of it. Theres always going to be a risk until he gets used to playing, but the doctors are all over it. Thats just bad luck." Los Angeles signed Bryant to a lavish two-year, $48.5 million contract extension last month, taking him into his 20th season with the Lakers. Most of Los Angeles roster will be free agents this summer. Bryant matched his season high with 21 points in the Lakers win at Memphis, but he went to the floor with 3:25 left in the third quarter. He stayed on the floor briefly before standing up, and Bryant bent over at the waist as he flexed his left leg back and forth. He walked to the bench with trainer Gary Vitti, but returned to the floor following the timeout. He hit a deep 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter to help clinch the win and finished playing more than 32 minutes. Bryant said after the game that he twisted his knee, but it felt all right. "I just hyperextended it," Bryant said when asked to describe what happened on the play. "I tend to hyperextend my knees every now and then." Buried behind the implications of Bryants latest injury, the Lakers got yet more bad news about the 39-year-old Nash, who has been injured for most of his two seasons in Los Angeles. The two-time NBA MVP has played in just six games this season and hasnt suited up since Nov. 10, repeatedly travelling home to Vancouver to undergo rehabilitation on his perpetually balky back and hamstrings. Nash made it clear another month off is just a rough guideline for his return. "I think Im making strides for sure," Nash said. "I think the biggest thing is durability. Theres such a fine line when I do get up to speed where I can do a lot of stuff. To be able to sustain it is the key right now. I know I can get back to an acceptable level of movement. Its just a matter of how long I can sustain it." Xavier Henry, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard who has been a pleasant surprise in his first year with Los Angeles, is the Lakers new starting point guard, DAntoni said. While Nash, Bryant and Steve Blake are out with long-term injuries, Jordan Farmar will be re-evaluated Tuesday in his return from a torn hamstring, with the Lakers hoping hell be back before January. . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. [url=http://www.shoptheofficialseahawksjersey.com/Elite-Luke-Willson-Seahawks-Je... Willson Seahawks Jersey . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Seattle Seahawks Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April.The Miami Heat will hang a third NBA championship banner, and second in a row, when they kick off their title defense tonight against the Chicago Bulls. Commissioner David Stern will be on hand to dole out some fancy jewelry. The Heat players will receive the championship rings pre-game as Miami will begin its quest for a third consecutive title. Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 starting at 8pm et. "Its an exciting time for us, for our fans, for our franchise," two-time reigning MVP LeBron James said after practice on Monday. "But, we cant prepare for it." And what about the fact that the Heat get their rings and banner ceremony, on opening night, at AmericanAirlines Arena, and against the Bulls, a team several pundits picked to usurp the Heat in the Eastern Conference? "It didnt matter who it was," said James, ever the diplomat. "But, we like the fact that it is the Bulls. It makes us stay on our toes. Its exciting. Its great for the league." Its definitely great for the NBA, pitting arguably the two best teams against each other on opening night. Its also great that James will battle Derrick Rose, the former MVP, who missed all of last season when he tore his ACL in the playoffs in 2012. Rose took his fair share of criticism for sitting the entire season, despite the Bulls announcing he was medically cleared to play. Rose didnt feel ready, but he does now and has had this day circled on his calendar. "Its just going to be an emotional day," Rose said back in September about this night. "Just playing again and being around my teammates and being in the atmosphere of an arena, playing in front of people...I havent had that in a long time." Roses return should propel a Bulls team that lost to the Heat inn the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.dddddddddddd Chicago knocked off the Brooklyn Nets in Game 7 at the Barclays Center last season, but Miami then dispatched the Bulls in five games. That was all without Rose. The two seasons prior to last, the Bulls were the No. 1 seed in the East. Rose won the MVP in 2011 and Tom Thibodeau was named Coach of the Year. Yet, the Bulls never made it past the Heat. This season, the Bulls still boast an incredible defense (third last season in points allowed), a great starting unit with former All-Stars Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng alongside Rose and Jimmy Butler, who emerged in the postseason. But, all roads to championship banners run through Miami. James is the best player by miles and is the odds-on favorite for a fifth MVP. At 28, James is still in the prime of his career, although this season might be taxing at times. He can opt out of his contract with the Heat and become a free agent, but James doesnt want to discuss that during the season. (Good luck.) Dwyane Wade had an awesome regular season last season and an awful playoff run. Same goes for Chris Bosh. Both can also vacate their contracts, but both should be much improved from their disastrous postseason performances. The biggest additions in Miami this offseason came in the form of Greg Oden and Michael Beasley. They went first and second in the 2007 and 2008 NBA drafts, respectively. Odens career seemingly ended due to bad knees and Beasleys looked to be over thanks to poor decisions, but the Heat are giving them a chance. The two teams have been evenly matched the last seasons, going 4-4 against each other. Chicago did win in Miami on Jan. 4 and the two sides wont meet again until Dec. 5 in the Windy City. 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