LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest suffered a concussion and injured his left elbow after falling at his home.
Artest didn’t travel with the Lakers to Saturday’s game at Sacramento after tripping over a box and falling down a flight of stairs at his home on Christmas night, the team said in a news release.
He was treated at UCLA Medical Center, undergoing a CT scan and receiving stitches in the back of his head and his elbow. A neurologist examined him Saturday and confirmed he had a concussion, the team said. Artest is day to day.
Takahashi is tops in Japan
OSAKA, Japan — Daisuke Takahashi won the Japanese men’s national figure skating championships to secure a place in the Vancouver Olympics.
Takahashi, who was first after the short program, made several mistakes in the free skate but was good enough to finish first with a total of 261.13 points.
Nobunari Oda, who has already secured a place in Vancouver, fell on his opening quad toe loop but was solid the rest of the way and finished second with 244.30 points.
In the women’s short program, Mao Asada finished first to strengthen her chances of securing a berth for the Olympics.
Bears’ Hester is questionable
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears receiver Devin Hester is questionable to return Monday against the Minnesota Vikings after missing two games with a strained left calf.
• Buffalo Bills wide receiver Josh Reed will not play in today’s game against the Atlanta Falcons
• Carolina Panthers reserve running back Tyrell Sutton won’t play against the New York Giants today because of a calf injury.
Footnotes.
Devin Ebanks scored 22 points, Da’Sean Butler had 21 and Kevin Jones added 19 to lead No. 6 West Virginia to a 90-84 overtime victory over Seton Hall, keeping the Mountaineers (10-0) one of six unbeaten teams in Division I.
• Injury-plagued pitcher Kelvim Escobar and the New York Mets have reached a preliminary agreement on a $1.25 million, one-year contract. Escobar, an 18-game winner in 2007, has missed nearly all of the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Angels because of shoulder trouble.
• Veteran left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado and the Washington Nationals have agreed to terms on a minor-league deal. The 39-year- old Guardado is fourth among active pitchers with 908 appearances in a 17-year career with the Rangers, Twins, Mariners and Reds.
• Lauren Cholewinski and Mitchell Whitmore won spots on the American Olympic team in the 500 meters at the U.S. Speedskating Championships in Kearns, Utah.
• Gabriel Bourque had three goals and four assists as five-time defending champion Canada romped to a 16-0 victory over Latvia in its opening game in the world junior hockey championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• New Zealand’s Alfa Romeo maintained its overnight lead over British entry ICAP Leopard today as the leading yachts in the Sydney to Hobart sailing race.
The Associated Press
