The National Basketball Associations have banned the Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant for one game on Wednesday for striking Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric in the face.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night with 58.7 seconds left in the fourth period of the Lakers' 117-107 double-overtime loss to the host Timberwolves at the Target Center.

Bryant, averaging 29.2 points per game this season, second-best in the league, will serve his suspension on Wednesday night when the Lakers visit the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.

It marked the second time this year Bryant has been slapped with a one-game suspension.

The eight-times All-Star, 26, struck San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili in the face late in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 96-94 overtime loss against the Spurs on Jan. 28 and was forced to sit out the team's next game against the New York Knicks.

Editor: Donald