Steve Nash returned to the floor for the first time for the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night since Oct. 31 and didn’t disappoint. The tw0-time NBA MVP scored 12 points, dished nine assists and grabbed three rebounds while helping the Lakers come out on top in an overtime thriller against the division rival Golden State Warriors, 118-115.
As a result of the win over the Warriors, the Lakers are riding a four-game winning streak heading into their showdown with the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. The Lakers will play host the Knicks at the Staples Center on Tuesday with hopes of avenging the loss to Carmelo Anthony recently at Madison Square Garden. Nash’s presence in the backcourt will definitely help the team’s chances of pulling out the win over arguably one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season.
Along with Nash finally returning from the leg fracture injury suffered in the second game of the season, the Lakers also received some promising news in terms of Dwight Howard’s long-term future in Los Angeles. Although Howard still hasn’t signed a long-term contract extension with the Lakers and won’t until he officially becomes a free agent next summer, the superstar center hinted to staying with the Lakers for the long haul talking about stepping up after Kobe Bryant retires.
Obviously, a lot can happen between now and the end of the season. Howard’s stance on his long-term future with the team may very well change, but as a right now, it appears he has no intention of signing anywhere else and is looking forward to the challenge of putting this storied franchise on his back in the post-Kobe era in Los Angeles.
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Lakers News
Derek Fisher Waived By The Dallas Mavericks [LA Times]
Lakers Near Top Eight In The Western Conference [LA Times]
Steve Nash’s Return Helps Lakers Through A Difficult Night [LA Times]
Lakers’ Screen And Roll With Steve Nash Is Potent Already [LA Times]
Words Of Wisdom From Dwight Howard And Carmelo Anthony [LA Times]
Steve Nash Returns In Wild Lakers Win [LA Times]
World Peace OK With Bench Role For Lakers [OC Register]
Defense Still A Problem For Lakers [OC Register]
Nash Makes Victorious Return To Lakers [OC Register]
Steve Nash Takes The Lakers To Neverland [Silver Screen & Roll]
Tweetbag: Nash Sore, Expects Less Shots From Kobe [Silver Screen & Roll]
Dwight Howard Is The Problem… And The Solution [Silver Screen & Roll]
Kyler: Jordan Hill, Lakers Bench, For Sale [Silver Screen & Roll]
With Nash Returning, Who Is His Back-Up PG? [Silver Screen & Roll]
LAKERS NOTEBOOK: Coach Mike D’Antoni Remembers Matchups Against Legendary Jerry West [LA Daily News]
LAKERS PREVIEW: Nash Is Back, But Things Look Different For L.A. [LA Daily News]
Lakers/Warriors: A Turning Point (?) [Forum Blue & Gold]
Talking Lakers With Zach Harper [Forum Blue & Gold]
Lineup Changes Brings Versatility, But Also More Questions [Forum Blue & Gold]
NBA News
Dirk Returns [SB Nation]
DeMarcus Cousins Suspended [SB Nation]
LeBron James Will Never Enter Dunk Contest [SB Nation]
Jeff Green Injury Not Serious [SB Nation]
Kings Don’t View DeMarcus Cousins As ‘Untouchable’ [SB Nation]
New Year’s Resolutions For The NBA [Pro Basketball Talk]
Mo Williams Out Indefinitely With Thumb Injury [Pro Basketball Talk]
LeBron James: “If I Wanted To, I Could Lead The League In Scoring.” [Pro Basketball Talk]
Brandon Jennings Thought That He And Rajon Rondo Were Going To Fight During Bucks’ Game Against Celtics [Pro Basketball Talk]
Sixers Doug Collins Owes A Lot Of People Big Macs [Pro Basketball Talk]
Report: Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki In Active Roster, Not Starting [Sports City]
NBA Play Of The Day: Hawks’ Williams Soars Over Bulls’ Hinrich [Sports City]
NBA Tweets Of The Day: They Love It When Kobe Bryant Shoots A Lot [Sports City]
Dallas Mavericks Release Derek Fisher, Call Up Chris Douglas-Roberts [Sports City]