IT'S A GRIZZLY NIGHT FOR LAKERS BRYANT SUFFERS RIB INJURY, L.A. LOSES TO MEAGER MEMPHIS MEMPHIS 114, LAKERS 108.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The sharp twinge in Kobe Bryant's rib cage foretold a glum and painful conclusion, the kind that comes with medical tape wrapped around the midsection, heads hung in disbelief and low tones from Shaquille O'Neal.

Bryant winced, and the Lakers wobbled. Three-pointers rained from Jason Williams' fingertips, and the Lakers wilted.

Then came the untimely turnovers, the defensive miscues, and finally the inevitable conclusion - the biggest upset of the season, as the transient Memphis Grizzlies knocked off the defending NBA champions 114-108 Friday at The Pyramid.

The Lakers lost for just the fourth time in 23 games this season and it certainly was the most unexpected defeat in the bunch, coming against a Grizzlies (7-19) team that ranked last in the Western Conference.

``We just underestimated them tonight,'' O'Neal said. ``They came out and they played almost perfect ball. ... They played above their heads.''

Williams scored 26 points and killed the Lakers with 14 in the fourth quarter.

There were greater worries for the Lakers as they left for home, looking mortal once more. Bryant scored 36 points but left the game doubled over in pain late in the third quarter after straining his ribs.

He returned in the fourth, his right side taped up, but was several steps slow and ineffective.

``I'm hurting right now,'' Bryant said afterward. ``I'm hurting.''

Bryant compared the injury to the one he suffered on his left side when Portland's Scottie Pippen jammed him in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series in April. That injury lingered with Bryant throughout the playoffs.

``Hopefully, it's not as bad - knock on wood,'' he said, knocking on a reporter's head.

Coach Phil Jackson said the injury was not a concern, but Bryant couldn't say whether he would be healthy for Tuesday's home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

``It's hard to tell right now,'' he said. ``I pray I'll feel a lot better and just get ready for the game against Philly.''

Bryant made 15 of 23 field goals, 11 of them on jump shots, in what was shaping up as his best game of the season. It looked like he would never miss, and when he dropped 12 points in a three-minute span of the third quarter, it looked as though the Lakers would pull away.

Then came the wince, and the walk off the court. Bryant scored 12 points between the first wince and the last, including a pair of spectacular dunks.

``I had a nice rhythm going. I think as a team we were ready to break the game open,'' he said.

Bryant returned with 7:43 left to play but half-jogged in the offense, trailed the team going upcourt and attempted only three shots, all 3-pointers, and made one. The Lakers sagged without his energy.

``Shaq should have picked up right behind him,'' Jackson said. ``That was the natural game. This is a team that doesn't have a big middle, and we didn't get anything accomplished much in the middle.''

O'Neal, coming off a groggy, 16-point game at Houston, struggled early but finished with 26 points on 11-for-25 shooting, and scored nine points in the fourth.

``I tried to get a couple buckets,'' O'Neal said. ``We had problems on defense tonight. They were shooting the ball very, very well.''

The Grizzlies shot 50 percent and committed a franchise-low four turnovers, and beat the Lakers for just the second time in the franchise's seven-year, multinational existence.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) Kobe Bryant reacts after dunking for two of his 36 points Friday. He later injured his ribs.

Alan Spearman/Associated Press

Box:

GAME RECAP