Steve Nash Doubtful for Game Against LA Clippers


Officially, the Los Angeles Lakers have listed Steve Nash as doubtful for tonight’s tilt against the Clippers, due to a left leg contusion. Nash, though, remains optimistic about suiting up. Per the LA Daily News: “At this point, it will be a mild surprise if Nash plays after suffering a lower-leg bruise during the Lakers’ 116-106 loss Wednesday night at Portland. Nash injured his left leg in the second quarter when he got tangled up with Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. Although Nash returned in the third quarter, he was able to play only a minute or so before having to leave the game. ‘By the time I got off of the training table, there was almost no time on the clock to warm up at halftime. So I ran out there and got some shots up, but I didn’t have any time to test it laterally,’ Nash said. ‘As soon as I did some lateral movement, (it) just gave out on me. I thought I was going to be able to finish the game but I didn’t obviously get enough time to really warm up and it just wasn’t ready last night.’ By Thursday, he was obviously favoring the leg, although he was hopeful he could play against the Clippers. ‘Luckily, it’s not anything major or structural. It’s just a contusion in a bad area,’ he said. ‘Maybe I’m too optimistic to say doubtful, but it’s definitely touch and go.’ If needed, Steve Blake would start in Nash’s place.”