PHOTO: Kobe apologizes for breaking Valanciunas' hand by signing his cast

Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas has been sidelined for the past seven games after fracturing his left hand in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 20.

The injury - which will keep him out of action for approximately six weeks - came when Kobe Bryant made a play for the ball when Valanciunas went up for a slam dunk.

The 23-year-old Lithuanian was not in uniform for the Raptors on Monday night when the Lakers paid a visit to the Air Canada Centre, which disappointed Valanciunas, who had been hoping to play against Bryant one last time.

Bryant and Valanciunas were able to cross paths during the evening, at least, and the 17-time All-Star signed the center's cast with a special message of apology:

"Sorry for the break, my brother. Stay strong," Bryant wrote.

"The Black Mamba" scored 21 points in the Lakers' 102-93 loss to the Raptors, their fourth consecutive defeat.