Last night in Salt Lake City, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to get their first road win of the season after taking down Al Jefferson and the Utah Jazz in a thrilling overtime victory, 90-87. Despite winning their first game on the road and getting another 40-point performance out of Kobe Bryant, the Lakers may have suffered a blow in the backcourt with an injury to backup point guard Steve Blake.
Reportedly, Steve Blake sustained this injury in the win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, but it was something that the veteran guard could play through. In the win over the Jazz, Blake aggravated a fracture of the cartilage that connects the rib to the sternum (costrochaondral fracture) after hitting a three and getting some contact in the process.
This rib injury was painful to say the least as Steve Blake could barely get back to the bench in order to be evaluated by Lakers’ athletic trainer Gary Vitti. After an MRI on Thursday, Steve Blake has been listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated in one or two days.
This injury to Steve Blake may force the hand of Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak to sign a free agent point guard. Gilbert Arenas could be an option for the Lakers moving forward, but there is a good chance that the team sticks with the current roster and gives more playing time to starter Derek Fisher and rookie Darius Morris.
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