NBA: Short-handed Hawks survive Lakers, as Kobe Bryant goes down late

[Video courtesy of The Point Forward]

As if it wasn't enough that the Los Angeles Lakers lost, star player Kobe Bryant may have suffered an ankle injury in the process.

The Atlanta Hawks had enough down the stretch to get past the Lakers, but the story of the game was Bryant, who may miss time after rolling an ankle in the dying seconds of the 96-92 Hawks win, Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Hawks snapped their three-game losing skid, improving to 35-29, while the Lakers saw their four-game win streak snapped at 34-32.

Kobe missed one of his patented shots for the tie, from the baseline, and is down on the floor holding his left ankle.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 14, 2013

Bryant landed on the foot of Jones, rolling that left ankle. He's up and walking around, asking for a foul for Jones crawling beneath.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 14, 2013

Game essentially over after Korver hit 2 FT's with 2.6 seconds left. Kobe's limping a bit to the locker room, but moving OK.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 14, 2013

The Lakers were within range, 94-92, after Kyle Korver managed just a split at the foul line, 16.9 seconds left. On the next possession, Bryant went for the tie but missed an 18-footer, and then landed on the foot Dahntay Jones, causing his ankle to roll.

Bryant managed to limp to the locker room on his own power.

The Lakers fouled Korver anew, and this time the sharpshooter made both. A turnover by Metta World Peace then closed out the game.

Earl Clark diagnosed with a sprained right ankle. X-rays were negative, and he may return. He's back on the bench.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 14, 2013

Bryant wasn't the only injured Laker in this game as Earl Clark logged just 13 minutes of action, before exiting due to an ankle sprain.

Atlanta actually led big, 55-43 at the break, as a split at the line by Devin Harris closed out the first half. A hook by Al Horford added to their tally at the start of the third, 57-43, but 20 points in the period by Kobe Bryant got the Lakers to within two, 71-69, before Antawn Jamison put them ahead with a triple, 1:25 left.

The Lakers added to their total with six unanswered at the beginning of the fourth, 80-76, but they were met by six straight as well from the Hawks. A triple by Bryant put LA ahead anew, 83-82, 7:08 left, but a personal 6-0 blast by Devin Harris spelled the difference.

Two more charities from Bryant with three minutes to play pulled LA within three, 90-87, and then Ivan Johnson and Metta World Peace swapped baskets, 25 seconds left.

Rookie John Jenkins managed a split, which was countered by a booming trey from the Black Mamba, making it a one-point game, 93-92, 18.3 ticks remaining, but that led to Korver's free throw, the subsequent miss and injury to Bryant, which doomed the Lakers.

The Hawks were victorious despite missing two of their starters. Point guard Jeff Teague was ruled out because of an ankle injury, while Josh Smith was a late scratch due to a sprained knee.

In their place, Al Horford had a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds, plus four assists. Devin Harris added 17 markers and seven assists, while the bench crew of Kyle Korver, Ivan Johnson, John Jenkins and Shelvin Mack amassed 46 points.

LA drew 31 from Bryant, but he needed 33 attempts to get there. Metta World Peace added 20, while Steve Nash managed 11 points and seven assists. Dwight Howard had 10 points and 16 rebounds, but missed all three of his free throws.

[Related: Howard shines in return to Orlando, as Lakers dump Magic]

A night after an emotional win at Orlando, the Lakers shot just 39.1 percent from the field. The Hawks meanwhile made 46.8 percent of their attempts, and beat LA in the assists category, 22-17. - AMD, GMA News