Nash to return, start for Lakers Tuesday

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash, who has not played since Nov. 10 because of a back problem, will start Tuesday night, coach Mike D’Antoni announced.

The Lakers (16-31) visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-34) at Target Center.

The Los Angeles Daily News reported that Nash will play the first 5-8 minutes of the game and then sit the rest of the first half, and then repeat that pattern for the second half.

“I’d Like Steve to warm up instead of sitting down and coming up,” D’Antoni said. “He’s always been a starter. If he can’t go, he can’t go and we’ll make adjustments.”

Nash will sit out the back-to-back Wednesday game when the Lakers head to Cleveland.

“That’s a big step that I got through some practices,” Nash said. “It is tenuous. I’m going to have to play some games to be a player and get some games under my belt to build the strength and confidence to protect the area. … I’m not going to lie. If I can get through that window there where I put some games behind me, there’s a chance I can finish the season.”