Lakers G Nash to return to practice
Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash is expected to return to practice on Tuesday after missing 10 straight games because of back and hamstring problems, ESPNLosAngeles.com reported.
It's possible -- but far from definite -- that both he and Kobe Bryant will return to action when the Lakers play the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Nash spent last week in Vancouver, British Columbia, working out with his personal trainer, Rick Celebrini, while the Lakers were on a three-game trip through Washington, Brooklyn and Detroit.
"I think he made some improvements, but we'll see," D'Antoni said of Nash, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com report.
Nash, 39, is averaging 6.7 points and 4.8 assists this season, and the Lakers need him more now that Jordan Farmar is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni also expects Bryant to be part of the team's practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but he does not know whether Nash or Bryant will play on Friday in the Lakers' next game.
"Three days of practice, then we'll evaluate it," D'Antoni said, according to the report. "It might happen, it might not. The only way we'll be able to evaluate it is let these three days go by and check it out. I have no idea how [Bryant] will respond to practice -- if he has to back off, if he can turn it up, if he's ready. After those three days we'll decide and it will either be or not be. But, I don't have the slightest clue whether it's Friday or not. No clue whatsoever."
