Shootaround Report: Nash's Back Spasms and Dwight's Pain Subsiding

Even with a record below .500 (28-30), the Lakers are still realistically in the hunt for an eighth seed in the playoffs. After breaking their three-game win streak with a loss to a more athletic Denver team Monday night, the Lakers will return to Staples Center to take on the 20-34 Minnesota Timberwolves. A team that, like the Lakers, has been plagued by injuries this season.

Last Friday, after the Lakers win against the Portland Trailblazers, Steve Nash revealed that he tweaked his back in the first quarter of the game. Nash also told reporters that it was a feeling he hadn’t felt before and would require rest, which at the time the Lakers didn’t have. Now, Steve Nash has had two days of rest since their last game, and Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News reported Nash is definitely feeling better.

Steve Nash said the back spasms he had has felt better in the last couple of days

— Mark Medina (@MedinaLakersNBA) February 28, 2013

—- Check out this wallpaper of Steve Nash, the Lakers Point God! —-

Dwight Howard has been dealing with a torn labrum in his right shoulder for some time now. He’s mentioned that the pain is something he’s expecting to play through all season long. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin though, Howard’s pain has definitely subsided recently, and much of that can be attributed to the protective shirt he wears under his jersey.

“As of late, (the pain) hasn’t really been there that much…The shirt I’ve been wearing is really helping me out a lot, so I’m going to continue to wear that.”

Looks like Dwight Howard and Steve Nash aren’t the only players feeling better. Pau Gasol, who was initially expected to miss a minimum of 6-8 weeks with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot is not only off crutches, but also training on the elliptical according to NBCLA.com’s Shahan Ahmed.

At Lakers shootaround: Pau Gasol on the elliptical with Mitch Kupchak talking to him. #lakers #Twolves twitter.com/shahanLA/statu…

— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) February 28, 2013

Hopefully things are looking up in Laker Land, but don’t let the Timberwolves record fool you. Minnesota is coming off two very close losses against the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors, each by one point. They’ll be just as hungry for the win as the Lakers tonight. Tip-off scheduled for 7:30pm PST. Check out our pre-game report here.

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