Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Nash, center, talks with Chris Kaman, left, and Jordan Farmar on the bench in the final minute of a 119-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Cleveland. The Lakers finished with only five healthy players, including Robert Sacre who had fouled out but was allowed to remain on the floor by rule. AP/Mark Duncan
CLEVELAND — Steve Blake, in his second game back from an elbow injury, notched a triple-double on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Cleveland 119-108 to snap a seven-game NBA skid.
Ryan Kelly scored a career-high 26 points for the injury-ravaged Lakers, who were coming off a 109-99 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
That defeat marked Blake’s first game since he suffered a torn elbow ligament in December — and he suffered a ruptured eardrum early in the contest when he took an inadvertent blow to the ear.
But Blake put it all behind him on Wednesday, scoring 11 points with 15 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the short-handed Lakers to an unlikely victory.
The Lakers also got a solid effort from Jordan Farmer, playing for the first time since New Year’s Eve, who made five three-pointers in a 21-point effort. He also handed out five assists before departing the game with a sore calf.
Wesley Johnson contributed 20 points and nine rebounds for a Lakers team that had just eight players in uniform.
Superstar Kobe Bryant remains sidelined with a broken bone in his left knee. Big man Pau Gasol also missed the current three-game road trip as he nurses a groin injury.
Jodie Meeks sprained an ankle against the Timberwolves, while Jordan Hill was out after suffering a neck strain in Minneapolis.
Veteran point guard Steve Nash, who returned from a lengthy injury absence on Tuesday, was held out as a precaution.
The Lakers lost forward Nick Young to a twisted knee in the second quarter and had center Chris Kaman foul out with 8:29 left, leaving them with five available players.
With 3:32 to play, center Robert Sacre picked up his sixth foul but was allowed to stay in the game because the Lakers had no other players.
The Cavs received a technical foul shot when Sacre stayed in. Any further fouls by Sacre would have been charged to the team and Cleveland awarded a free throw, but he didn’t incur any more fouls the rest of the way.
“It was interesting to say the least,” said Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, who wasn’t aware of the rule that allowed Sacre to stay in the game until the officials explained it to him.
The Lakers used a long-range barrage to make up for their personnel deficits. Their 18 three-pointers were a club record in a non-overtime game.