Kobe Bryant Reportedly Suffering From Injury

Kobe tore a ligament in his right wrist during the first pre-season game against the Clippers. Sources connected to the team tell TMZ ... the pain has been excruciating. Our sources say he's gotten a numbing shot before each game since the injury, and as a result the pain was tolerable during play. But we're told the shot did almost nothing Sunday night, and as one source put it, "It was a miracle that he even played."

Our Lakers sources tell us ... in addition to the numbing shots, Kobe's regimen is now to play with a cast, get physical therapy after each game and wear a flexible cast at all times off the court.