batting practice session before Springfields game Wednesday.

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. Cheap Salomon Shoes . The 27th-ranked Austrian underwent surgery on a torn tendon in October and needs more time to recover, the Austria Press Agency reports on Saturday. Authentic Salomon Shoes Cheap .Fiji striker Roy Krishna scored in the 14th minute to give Wellington its fourth win, along with a draw, from its past five matches, putting the Phoenix fourth but only a point behind third-placed Adelaide. http://www.salomoncheap.com/ . The cause of his death is as of yet undetermined, but police said foul play is not suspected. Wholesale Salomon Shoes . Next up is another showdown with Michigan. Payne scored 18 points, Branden Dawson had 14 and No. 22 Michigan State beat No. 12 Wisconsin 83-75 on Saturday to reach the Big Ten tournament championship. Salomon Shoes Outlet . The 18-year-old Januzaj has made his breakthrough at United this season, including scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Sunderland before the recent international break. His performances have sparked a debate about where his international future lies.PITTSBURGH -- Ike Davis wasnt able to play meaningful late-season games during his time with the New York Mets. Hes making the most of his chance with the Pittsburgh Pirates. "Its the first time hes been involved in games that have this kind of significance this late in the season," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday after Davis long home run keyed a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. "Hes showing up to the ballpark ready contribute any way he can." Davis hit a two-run drive off a speaker above the seats in right-centre field in the second inning. A day earlier, Davis had a pinch-hit, tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning of Pittsburghs 5-2 win. Davis arrived in the major leagues with the New York Mets in 2010 and was traded to Pittsburgh in April. The Mets finished with losing records in all of his seasons in New York. "Its hard when youre mathematically eliminated, Davis said. "You hit a home run and its a great feeling still, but its kind of like it didnt really matter. If youre still in it, it definitely feels a little sweeter." Davis hit his 10th homer after Adam Wainwright (15-9) plunked Russell Martin on the left elbow with a pitch that Martin barely tried to avoid. Davis sent an 88 mph cutter clanking off a speaker raised on a pole, about 15 feet above the seats, a drive estimated at about 433 feet. "I just got the barrel on it," Davis said. "It just carried out today." Wainwright knew he made a mistake when he saw where his pitch was headed. "I threw it right into Ikes swing path, and he made a good swing on it," Wainwright said. "I wanted to get the pitch higher, but I got it and down and in, and thats a left-handed hitters honey spot right there." Davis also had an inning-ending lineout that left the bases loaded in the fifth. Pittsburgh took two of three from the defending NL champions and has won five of seven overall. St. Louis (71-61) leads the NL wild-card race, with San Francisco (69-62) trailing by 1 1/2 games and the Pirates (69-64) one game back of the Giants for the second wild-card berth. Jeff Locke (6-3) allowed one run and six hits in 7 1-3 innings, giving up Matt Hollidays third-inning homer. Locke also singled in tthe third and scored on Andrew McCutchens sacrifice fly, just the 11th hit for the pitcher in 98 career at-bats.dddddddddddd Mark Melancon pitched a one-hit ninth for his 24th save in 28 chances. Locke escaped trouble in the third, stranding Daniel Descalso on third when Josh Harrison made a diving stop on Randal Grichuks two-out grounder down the line and threw to first Wainwright allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings. He gave up five runs to Philadelphia on Aug. 22 and has gone winless in consecutive starts for just the second time this season. "Youre not going to be at your best all time," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Right now, hes not at his best, but he showed some good signs today." TRAINERS ROOM Cardinals: C Yadier Molina was to begin an injury rehab assignment and catch five innings for Double-A Springfield on Wednesday and could return to the Cardinals on Friday. He has been on the 15-day DL since July 10 because of a torn ligament in his right thumb. ... RHP Michael Wacha was to throw a batting practice session before Springfields game Wednesday. A right shoulder stress reaction landed Wacha on the DL on June 18. Pirates: 3B Pedro Alvarez was out of the lineup, a day after he was removed from a game due to left foot discomfort. Alvarez left PNC Park with a walking boot on his foot after Tuesdays game and was seen wearing the boot in the clubhouse Wednesday. ON DECK Cardinals: St. Louis opens a three-game series at home Friday against the Chicago Cubs. RHP Shelby Miller (8-9, 4.26 ERA) is slated to start against Chicago LHP Felix Doubront (2-4, 6.07 ERA). Pirates: Pittsburgh is off Thursday before the Pirates continue their six-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds. RHP Edinson Volquez (11-7, 3.56 ERA) starts the opener against his former team and RHP Mike Leake (10-11, 3.51 ERA). GAMECHANGER Pittsburgh centerfielder Andrew McCutchen was in the lineup, a day after he was removed from a game because of discomfort in the same area of his ribs that caused him to go on the 15-day DL earlier this month. McCutchen finished 1 for 3 with a RBI. "Were always going to be a better team with him in the lineup," Hurdle said. ' ' '