LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Direct Relief International, one of the world's leading medical relief organizations, today announced that twenty players from the National Basketball Association (NBA) have committed to supporting the organization in their effort to help the people of Japan recover from the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.

Los Angeles Lakers big man Pau Gasol is recovering from surgery to repair a finger he injured while practicing with the Spanish national team. The 7-foot power forward-center was hurt blocking a shot while preparing for the upcoming European Championship, the Spanish Basketball Federation said in a statement on FIBA.com Tuesday. It's an injury to his left hand with damage to the interphalangeal ligament, the federation said.

Andrew Bynum had 18 points and Kobe Bryant had 16 Sunday, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a slow start to rout Memphis 92-75. Pau Gasol finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds and Trevor Ariza scored 12 for the Lakers, who have won six of their last seven games -- and have only the longest shot of finishing with the best regular-season record in the NBA. To get the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, LA (64-17) needs to win its regular-season finale Tuesday against Utah while the Cleveland Cavaliers (65-15) lose their remaining two games against Indiana Monday and Philadelphia Wednesday. O.J.

Mike Conley scored 22 points Wednesday, including four foul shots in the final minute, leading Memphis past Washington 112-107. Rudy Gay added 25 points, and both Marc Gasol and O.J.

O.J.