When Metta World Peace told reporters yesterday that he would be playing tonight vs. the New Orleans Hornets, despite today being just his twelfth day back from knee surgery to repair his torn meniscus, he was not kidding. As Sam Amick of USA Today reported after Lakers shootaround this morning, Mike D’Antoni says that Metta World Peace will come off the bench for the Lakers tonight.
Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni says Metta World Peace will play tonight, but not start. Nash out tonight.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 9, 2013
It’s been less than two weeks since Metta World Peace had surgery, and it was announced that he would be out 4-6 weeks. In the best case scenario, it was thought that Metta World Peace could return if the Lakers made it to the playoffs. Somehow, Peace will make it back to contribute to the last five games of the regular season.
—- Check out this wallpaper of Metta World Peace having The World in his hands! —-
Unfortunately, the same miraculous recovery cannot be said for Steve Nash who according to Mike Bresnahan will not play in tonight’s game and is doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Portland Trailblazers.
Nash is out tonight against New Orleans, doubtful Wednesday against Portland. Hip, hamstring still bothering him.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) April 9, 2013
What was once thought to be a minor injury, has clearly become debilitating for Steve Nash, as his hip and hamstring are still bothering him. Whether or not Nash plays Wednesday, he will still travel with the team.
Kobe Bryant has been playing an extraordinary amount of minutes over the past several games. Mike D’Antoni hopes that with Metta World Peace back, Bryant can rest his legs a bit. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, D’Antoni guesstimated that Peace would play around 20 minutes tonight.
MIKE dAntoni said he thought Metta would play about 20 mins tonight, but thats just a guess.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 9, 2013
The Lakers take on the New Orleans Hornets tonight at 7:30PM. Expect the Hornets to come out with a chip on their shoulder. Back in New Orleans, the Lakers came back from 25 points and finished on a 20-0 run that left the Hornets with their most disappointing loss of the season.
VIDEO: Metta World Peace says he will play tonight
