INQUIRER Sports

LOS ANGELES--Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest tripped over a box and fell down a flight of stairs at his home on Christmas night, suffering head and left elbow injuries, the team announced Saturday.

Hours after being outplayed by Cleveland's LeBron James and fouling out with only 13 points in a 102-87 loss to the Cavaliers on Friday, Artest suffered injuries that required stitches on his elbow and the back of his head.

Artest did not travel with the Lakers to Sacramento and was awaiting further medical examination to determine when he might return to the defending NBA champions.

Artest, averaging 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Lakers in his first season with the club, is likely to be replaced by Lamar Odom in the starting lineup for Los Angeles.