Lakers' Bryant sprains shoulder against Cavaliers

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant sprained his surgically repaired right shoulder Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers and sat out the second half.

Team spokesman John Black called the injury a sprained acromio clavicular joint and said Bryant will have an MRI exam Tuesday.

Bryant was injured with 5.7 seconds left in the first quarter when he faked Cleveland's Kedrick Brown into the air outside the 3-point line and Brown landed on Bryant's shoulder.

In obvious pain, Bryant made three free throws, but left the game after the first quarter ended and went to the locker room for X-rays, which were negative.

Bryant returned to the game with 7:33 remaining in the second period, but was clearly not himself.

His only shot was a left-handed jumper from outside the foul line that didn't come close, and he was taken out shortly thereafter, with 2:27 left before halftime. He was again taken to the locker room and didn't return.

Bryant finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. He had surgery on the shoulder shortly after the Lakers were eliminated from the second round of the playoffs by San Antonio last May.

The Lakers were already short-handed, playing without Shaquille O'Neal (strained right calf) and Karl Malone (sprained knee ligament). Both are expected to return in the next week or so.