Mostly circuitous concerning Brian Cardinal's knee surgery and astonishingly long rehabilitation, the Grizzlies activated the 6-8 forward Wednesday as they were forced to sit Shane Battier because of a hand injury.

Battier has been durable for the Grizzlies.

But he was injured during an incident at Monday's practice. The Griz contend they didn't know the extent of Battier's injury until late Tuesday.

Battier's right index finger is jammed into the knuckle, according to Griz coach Mike Fratello.

"There's a lot of swelling in the hand," Fratello said. "He's unable to shoot the ball."

Cardinal, though, asked for a chance to test his knee despite having only participated in light practices. Fratello even said last Friday that Cardinal wasn't close to returning.

But Cardinal entered the game against the L.A. Lakers with 11:49 left in the second period. He wore a black brace on the left knee that received routine arthroscopic surgery in May but mysteriously took nearly seven months to rehabilitate.