LOS ANGELES -- The injury-ridden Los Angeles Lakers already have spent so much time playing without Kobe Bryant, losing him again for an extended period wont take them in uncharted territory. Xavier Henry, the fourth player to start at point guard this season for coach Mike DAntoni, scored 21 points and the Lakers began another long stretch without their 15-time All-Star by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-91 Friday night. Bryant is expected to miss at least six weeks because of a fracture in his left knee, which occurred Tuesday night at Memphis when he fell to the court late in the third quarter of the Lakers 96-92 win. The NBAs fourth all-time leading scorer finished that game, hitting a clutch 3-pointer to help seal the win. But an MRI on Thursday revealed the injury. Bryant missed the first 19 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, an injury that occurred on April 12 -- with two games left before the playoffs. "It just prepared us," Henry said. "I mean, we started without him, and right now unfortunately were without him again. But we know we can play. We know we can win games, and we have the confidence that we have other people that can do the job." The Lakers returned from a 2-2 road trip and ended a three-game home losing streak. Pau Gasol, the only player to start all 26 games for the Lakers, had 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Reserve Nick Young scored 25 points, including a 4-point play that gave the Lakers a lead after Corey Brewer fouled him behind the arc with 2:37 left in the third quarter. "We played to our strengths," Henry said. "I mean, me and Nick can attack them in different ways. Jodie Meeks can shoot it, and weve got a guy like Pau whos a really good playmaker." Bryant, who last month signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension at age 35, made his return Dec. 8 and played just six games -- all in 10 days. The 18-year veteran averaged over 32 minutes in the last three while shifting to point guard because of injuries to Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar. The 39-year-old Nash, a two-time MVP who hasnt played since Nov. 10 because of back and hamstring issues, has played as many games as Bryant -- and will remain sidelined at least four more weeks with nerve root irritation in his back. Blake missed his fifth game because of a torn ligament in his right elbow, and Farmar sat out his eighth due to a torn left hamstring. DAntoni used his 11th starting lineup, and Henry shot 8 for 19 and had four assists in 42 minutes. As a team, the Lakers had 27 assists despite the absence of a bona fide point guard. "They understand the moment and they understand that this is their opportunity," DAntoni said. Kevin Love scored 20 of his 25 points in the first half and grabbed 13 rebounds for Minnesota, but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. The Lakers broke open a tight game with 3-pointers by Gasol and Young to help extend their lead to 100-91 with 2 minutes remaining. They outscored Minnesota 9-0 over the final 3:18. Nikola Pekovic had 22 points and 13 boards, but Brewer finished with just five points after missing all eight field goal attempts. Point guard Ricky Rubio missed the morning shootaround because he wasnt feeling well. He played 30 minutes, finishing with six points, seven assists and six rebounds. Love powered the Timberwolves to a 53-51 halftime lead, fueling an 18-3 run with seven points in a 1:50 span to help turn an 11-point deficit into a 51-47 lead in the final minute of the second quarter. "No energy. We have to be better than that," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. "They outworked us all night long. It was a poor game on our part. " NOTES: Henry was the 12th overall pick in the 2012 draft, by Memphis. His older brother C.J. was the 17th overall pick in the 2005 baseball draft, by the Yankees. ... This is the first time since moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles that the Lakers have failed to go more than a game over .500 through their first 26 games in back-to-back seasons. ... Love has fouled out only once in 313 NBA games. It was against the Lakers on Jan. 30, 2009 -- as a reserve -- in a 132-119 loss at Minnesota. Kenny Stabler Youth Jersey . "This doesnt end anything," he said. "Weve got 10-1 in our last 11 games, and were going home in first place. We just have to keep playing the way we are right now. Antonio Brown Raiders Jersey . Gustafsson controlled the first round after getting top position on a throw, and came out much more forcefully in the second, buckling Manuwa with a Muay Thai knee, and finishing him off with strikes on the ground. http://www.footballraidersmall.com/Youth-Fred-Biletnikoff-Elite-Jersey/ . That still leaves a big hole.You dont replace the leadership, defensive co-ordinator Billy Davis said. You just dont. Leadership is something that is earned over time. Charles Woodson Womens Jersey .C. -- The RBC Cups semifinal participants were decided by a pair of overtime games. Jim Otto Womens Jersey . The game got off to a less-than-ideal start for the Jets as Oliver Ekman-Larsson found a wide open net from the slot and opened the scoring for the Coyotes a lead in the first period, but Olli Jokinen answered back just over half a minute later.HOUSTON - Anthony Davis knew hed have to be aggressive with Tyreke Evans out with an injury to give New Orleans a chance against the Houston Rockets.He did just that, and it helped the Pelicans to a win.Davis had 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Pelicans to a 99-90 victory over the Rockets on Thursday night.Right now its all about maturity and growing up as a team and realizing this is a moment, this is where we have to start growing up and learning how to win games, the 21-year-old said. I think we did a good job of that (Thursday).The Pelicans trailed by one early in the fourth quarter before using a 7-0 run to take a 79-73 lead and they didnt trail again. Ryan Anderson scored the last five points on that spurt to help New Orleans snap a six-game skid in Houston.Jrue Holiday added 16 points with 10 assists for New Orleans and Anderson had 16 points. Evans, who is the teams second-leading scorer with 17 points a game, sat out with a bruised right knee.We couldnt contain the ball very well, Houston coach Kevin McHale said. Holiday kind of got where he wanted with the ball.Davis was encouraged that they were able to hold Houston to just 90 points.Weve got to realize that were a defensive team and when we defend, were a tough team to beat, he said.James Harden scored 21 and Dwight Howard had 17 points with 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who lost for just the second time in nine games.Harden entered the game leading the NBA in scoring and had scored more than 40 points in two of his last three games. But he had a tough night by his standards and made just eight of 23 shots.Harden made back-to-back layups to get Houston within six, but Holiday answered with a pair of baskets to make it 91-81 with less than 2 1/2 minutes left.Davis scored four quick points to push the Pelicans lead to 83-75 with about seven minutes remaining.The Pelicans opened the fourth quarter with a 7-2 spurt to take a 72-70 lead. Dante Cunningham started the run with a 3-pointer and Davis had a nice alley-oop dunk in it.New Orleans had a six-point lead after two free throwss by Cunningham midway through the third.ddddddddddddHouston then used a 9-1 run, capped by a steal and dunk by Trevor Ariza, to take its first lead of the second half, 65-63.Holiday tied it up with a jump shot before Troy Daniels hit a 3-pointer to leave the Rockets up 68-65 entering the fourth quarter.The Pelicans were up by nine early in the third when Houston scored five quick points, capped by a nifty sequence by Patrick Beverley, Ariza and Harden, to cut the lead to 58-54.Beverley and Ariza surrounded Davis and Beverley stole the ball as Davis lost his balance and crashed backward to the court. Beverley hit Harden with a long pass and he finished with a layup.Howard had three blocks on Thursday to give him 1,691 and move him past McHale and into 25th place on the all-time blocked shots list.The Rockets had trouble getting going in the first half and scored a season-low 17 points in the second quarter. The slow start could have had something to do with playing a tough back-to-back that saw them land in Houston at 4 a.m. Thursday following an overtime win in Denver.New Orleans used a 5-0 run late in the second quarter to take a 46-39 lead at halftime.TIP-INSPelicans: Coach Monty Williams said theyll re-evaluate Evans on Friday. ... Austin Rivers started in his place and had 10 points and six assists.Rockets: Kostas Papanikolaou returned after missing five games with a strained right knee. ... Francisco Garcia (calf, strained Achilles) and Terrence Jones (left leg nerve inflammation) remain out.OH BABYHoustons Jason Terry missed the second straight game to be with his wife who had the couples fifth child — a girl — this week. Hes expected to return for Saturdays game.T-MAC BACKFormer Houston All-Star Tracy McGrady watched the game from a courtside seat. He received a standing ovation after a video was played in the arena with highlights of the game 10 years ago when he scored 13 points in 35 seconds to give the Rockets a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Spurs.UP NEXTPelicans: Host Portland Saturday.Rockets: Host Atlanta Saturday. ' ' '