Steve Nash doubtful for next game; World Peace ahead of schedule

The injury news was dour for the Lakers in the short term but better in the long run.

Steve Nash was doubtful (again) for Sunday’s game against the Clippers. He did not take part in the Lakers’ shoot-around Saturday after missing the last two games and exiting two others early because of hip and hamstring soreness.

“We’re shooting for Tuesday, hopefully,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said of Nash’s return. The Lakers play host to New Orleans that day.

Metta World Peace, however, could return earlier than expected from torn knee cartilage.

The Lakers have reduced his recovery timetable to four to six weeks, D’Antoni said Saturday. World Peace was expected to be out at least six weeks after undergoing surgery to have the cartilage removed.

Of course, the timetable shift only matters if the Lakers get past the regular season, which ends April 17 for them against Houston.

World Peace started running Friday and did some shooting Saturday at the team’s training facility.

He has been sidelined since getting injured March 25 against Golden State.

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