Lakers indicate Bryant will be back on Sunday

The Los Angeles Lakers expect to have Kobe Bryant back in their lineup when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The forward has been out all season since surgery in April for a torn Achilles tendon.

The team posted a dramatic short video, Seasons of Legend, on its Facebook page Friday indicating the former Lower Merion star will be back by Sunday.

The video shows Bryant's No. 24 Lakers uniform floating in air, being battered by wind, rain, sleet and snow. Lightning rips the worn shirt - maybe a reference to the Achilles tear - before a blinding ray of sunlight restores the jersey to pristine condition. The video ends with the words "The Legend Continues . . . December 8."

Los Angeles signed Bryant, the fourth-leading scoring in NBA history, to a two-year contract extension last week, reportedly worth $48.5 million.

Korver sets record. Former 76er Kyle Korver set the NBA record for consecutive games with a three-pointer as the host Atlanta Hawks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-89, Friday night.

Korver's trey with 5 minutes, 29 seconds remaining in the first quarter gave him at least one in a record-90th straight game, breaking a tie with another former Sixer, Dana Barros. Korver was 2 for 3 from beyond the arc and finished with 10 points.

Nugget fined. The NBA has fined Nuggets guard Nate Robinson $25,000 for criticizing the officials following Denver's 97-95 win over the Knicks last week.

Robinson's comments came after he drew a technical foul in the fourth quarter of the Nov. 29 game.

"They hate me, they hate me," Robinson said of the officials, according to the Denver Post. "I don't know why, but it is what it is. I already know I've got the target on my back, but I'll play through it. I don't care. I really don't."

Quotable. LeBron James, after the Heat were outmuscled by Chicago in a 107-87 win for the Bulls on Thursday night: "Teams have done a much better job of rebounding against us. . . . I'm going to do a better job of that, get more rebounds. But it's a group thing for a team."

- Staff and wire reports