PORTLAND, Ore. -- Steve Nash suffered a lower left leg contusion in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' 116-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night and was sidelined for most of the second half.
Lakers coach Mike Brown said Nash would be re-evaluated Thursday to determine his availability for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I guess I wouldn't want to say right now (whether he will play) but I'm definitely hopeful," Nash told reporters after the game.
Nash, 38, collided with Portland rookie Damian Lillard and left with 2:26 remaining in the second quarter. He tried to play again after halftime, but lasted just more than a minute on the court before Steve Blake subbed in for him. Nash spent the rest of the game icing his leg and getting treatment in the locker room.
"It was sore but I went out to try and play and then I planted on it and it just kind of gave out on me," Nash said. "It was sore and functionally I couldn't plant on it, or push off on it, or accelerate."
The two-time MVP said that lateral movement caused the leg to "flare up" early in the third quarter, effectively ending his night.
Nash said he was kneed in the lower leg when the collision occurred and he has yet to experience an injury of this nature in his 17 years in the league.
"I've had contusions before but not necessarily in this spot," Nash said. "It's kind of frustrating."
Nash finished with 2 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds in 16 minutes. He is averaging 4.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds through the Lakers' first two games of the season, both losses.
Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.
