The Los Angeles Lakers have confirmed that Steve Blake will miss at least six weeks with an elbow injury.
An MRI scan has revealed that the point guard has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm sustained during the loss to the Washington Wizards at the end of last month.
The 33-year-old told ESPN: "If I was a baseball player, I probably would have surgery, but we're thinking with time and a [platelet-rich plasma] injection, we think that will be sufficient enough to heal it up.
"I went for the steal and kind of jammed my arm up into his body. I think that's when I tore it."
With Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar also out injured, shooting guard Kobe Bryant is expected to fill in at point guard during the Lakers' upcoming four-game road trip.