Artcorner » "If that one was not exciting for them,

LOS ANGELES -- The injury-ridden Los Angeles Lakers already have spent so much time playing without Kobe Bryant, losing him again for an extended period wont take them in uncharted territory. Xavier Henry, the fourth player to start at point guard this season for coach Mike DAntoni, scored 21 points and the Lakers began another long stretch without their 15-time All-Star by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-91 Friday night. Bryant is expected to miss at least six weeks because of a fracture in his left knee, which occurred Tuesday night at Memphis when he fell to the court late in the third quarter of the Lakers 96-92 win. The NBAs fourth all-time leading scorer finished that game, hitting a clutch 3-pointer to help seal the win. But an MRI on Thursday revealed the injury. Bryant missed the first 19 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, an injury that occurred on April 12 -- with two games left before the playoffs. "It just prepared us," Henry said. "I mean, we started without him, and right now unfortunately were without him again. But we know we can play. We know we can win games, and we have the confidence that we have other people that can do the job." The Lakers returned from a 2-2 road trip and ended a three-game home losing streak. Pau Gasol, the only player to start all 26 games for the Lakers, had 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Reserve Nick Young scored 25 points, including a 4-point play that gave the Lakers a lead after Corey Brewer fouled him behind the arc with 2:37 left in the third quarter. "We played to our strengths," Henry said. "I mean, me and Nick can attack them in different ways. Jodie Meeks can shoot it, and weve got a guy like Pau whos a really good playmaker." Bryant, who last month signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension at age 35, made his return Dec. 8 and played just six games -- all in 10 days. The 18-year veteran averaged over 32 minutes in the last three while shifting to point guard because of injuries to Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar. The 39-year-old Nash, a two-time MVP who hasnt played since Nov. 10 because of back and hamstring issues, has played as many games as Bryant -- and will remain sidelined at least four more weeks with nerve root irritation in his back. Blake missed his fifth game because of a torn ligament in his right elbow, and Farmar sat out his eighth due to a torn left hamstring. DAntoni used his 11th starting lineup, and Henry shot 8 for 19 and had four assists in 42 minutes. As a team, the Lakers had 27 assists despite the absence of a bona fide point guard. "They understand the moment and they understand that this is their opportunity," DAntoni said. Kevin Love scored 20 of his 25 points in the first half and grabbed 13 rebounds for Minnesota, but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. The Lakers broke open a tight game with 3-pointers by Gasol and Young to help extend their lead to 100-91 with 2 minutes remaining. They outscored Minnesota 9-0 over the final 3:18. Nikola Pekovic had 22 points and 13 boards, but Brewer finished with just five points after missing all eight field goal attempts. Point guard Ricky Rubio missed the morning shootaround because he wasnt feeling well. He played 30 minutes, finishing with six points, seven assists and six rebounds. Love powered the Timberwolves to a 53-51 halftime lead, fueling an 18-3 run with seven points in a 1:50 span to help turn an 11-point deficit into a 51-47 lead in the final minute of the second quarter. "No energy. We have to be better than that," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. "They outworked us all night long. It was a poor game on our part. " NOTES: Henry was the 12th overall pick in the 2012 draft, by Memphis. His older brother C.J. was the 17th overall pick in the 2005 baseball draft, by the Yankees. ... This is the first time since moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles that the Lakers have failed to go more than a game over .500 through their first 26 games in back-to-back seasons. ... Love has fouled out only once in 313 NBA games. It was against the Lakers on Jan. 30, 2009 -- as a reserve -- in a 132-119 loss at Minnesota. Craig Anderson Senators Jersey . Alen, 28, hit .315 with five home runs, 59 RBI and a career-high nine stolen bases for the Goldeyes last season. He is the longest serving catcher in Goldeyes history, having already spent five seasons with the organization. Colin White Senators Jersey . Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. http://www.senatorssale.com/authentic-thomas-chabot-senators-jersey/ .DeMarco Murray got his 20th carry late in the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, not long after Dez Bryant made his final catch of the day.Sure enough, a 44-17 win over Washington didnt change Dallas post-season position. Mark Borowiecki Senators Jersey . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena. Jean-Gabriel Pageau Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins (5) – He was locked in all night, made huge stops on Benoit Pouliot, Raphael Diaz, Ryan Mcdonagh, Carl Hagelin, Rick Nash (twice) but none better than the three saves on Mats Zuccarello. WINNIPEG -- Rookie Sean Monahan admitted he wasnt very good in the shootout while playing junior last season. But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. It was a goal that halted Calgarys (7-11-3) six-game winless streak, and it marked the first shootout goal -- on the first shootout shot -- of Monahans young NHL career. "My first year in junior, I was alright (in the shootout)," said Monahan, who had played with the Ottawa 67s. "Last year, I wasnt too good so I was kind of nervous there, but I felt good once I got off the ice." Monahan, who also had an assist, scored low on goalie Al Montoyas blocker side. "I went down the wide side and its a move I usually try to do in practice and fortunately enough it worked," he said. Juri Hudler had given Calgary a 4-3 lead with less than four minutes left in the game, but the Jets didnt let up as centre Bryan Little tied it 4-4 with six seconds left. With Montoya on the bench for the extra attacker in the final 30 seconds of regulation, the Jets (10-10-3) swarmed goalie Reto Berra and Little put a rebound in an open side of the net. Montoya, who was playing so starter Ondrej Pavelec could have a break, stopped 24 shots in regulation and five in overtime. Berra was barraged by 47 shots, including three in overtime, for his second win of the season. Michael Cammalleri scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season on the power play for Calgary and added an assist. T.J. Brodie also had a goal and assist and Lance Bouma scored shorthanded. Michael Frolik, Olli Jokinen and Dustin Byfuglien also scored for Winnipeg.dddddddddddd Byfuglien added an assist and Grant Clitsome and Blake Wheeler each had a pair of assists. Winnipeg saw a four-game home winning streak halted, but are 4-2-1 in their last seven games. "That was a pretty strange game in my books," Jets coach Claude Noel said. "I thought either team could have won it any time. We chased the game, not only from a goals standpoint, but I thought it was pretty wild in a lot of ways. "I was wondering how it would go. I wasnt settled all night. There was no point that I was comfortable." Calgary coach Bob Hartley echoed his bench counterpart. "If that one was not exciting for them, it sure was for me," Hartley said of the capacity crowd of 15,004 at the MTS Centre. "We made it interesting, we made it tough on us, but at the end we found a way to win so big two points." After Boumas short-handed goal at 11:17 of the third period made it 3-2, Byfuglien tied the game with 7:50 left, scoring his fifth goal in as many games on the power play off a rebound. But Calgary regained the lead when Hudler blasted a shot from the top of the face-off circle that cut by Montoya with 3:26 left in regulation. "I think we gave up some point-blank opportunities, way too many quality chances," Jets captain Andrew Ladd said. Hartley was impressed with the way Berra reacted to Littles late tying goal. "Hes a very proud young man," Hartley said. "And despite the fact that he gave the equalizing goal late in the game, he never lost his focus. "What to say about his performance? I rarely saw a goalie give four goals and play that well." Calgary hosts Columbus on Wednesday and the Jets take on the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. ' ' '