After missing eight games with hip/hamstring issues, Steve Nash returned to the starting line-up in the Lakers first playoff game against the San Antonio Spurs. He played almost 30 minutes, contributing 16 points, but still looked nowhere near 100 percent. Sunday evening, Nash said he was hopeful to play on Wednesday, but wanted to see how he felt on Monday. According to Lakers reporter Mike Trudell, Nash practiced today and Mike D’Antoni said he should start on Wednesday.
Mike D’Antoni said @stevenash (back/hamstring) practiced and should start Wednesday.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 22, 2013
Nash also admitted that he hasn’t felt himself, since returning from injury. Steve Blake had been starting in place of Nash up until Sunday’s game when he started alongside him. It was actually the first time this season, the Lakers played with a starting line-up of Nash, Blake, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, and Metta World Peace.
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Jodie Meeks came off the bench for the purple and gold, and prior to Sunday’s game, Meeks was one of the solemn few that did not have his name on the Lakers injury list this season. Meeks, however, came down on a defender’s foot during Sunday’s game, rolled his left ankle and suffered a mild ankle sprain. Trudell reported that Meeks did not practice today, and instead received treatment on his ankle. However, D’Antoni believes Meeks will be available for game two.
Jodie Meeks (ankle) did not practice, instead getting treatment on his ankle, but D’Antoni thinks he’ll be available for Game 2.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 22, 2013
Meeks played almost 20 minutes in game one, scoring four points, but his real contribution didn’t show in the stat sheet. Meeks brought another level of energy to the game that the Lakers will need to feed off of if they have any chance of winning this series. The Lakers next game against the Spurs is Wednesday, 6:30 PST. Hopefully, that will give Meeks an adequate time to recover.
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In case you missed it, be sure to check out Kobe Bryant making two free throws with a ruptured Achilles in our Play of the Week!
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