EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Jordan Hill said he didn't need surgery to repair the herniated disk in his back.
Hill suffered his injury in the Lakers' exhibition game against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night. He is expected to sit out a week, then be re-evaluated.
Hill said he cautiously was optimistic he'd be ready to go for the Lakers' season opener Oct. 30 against the Dallas Mavericks.
"The doctor said it wasn't serious now, but it could be serious if I don't strengthen my core," Hill said. "So we've got to be careful with it now."
Hill said he felt pain in his back in the second quarter of Sunday's game, but didn't think it was all that serious.
"I was playing with it," he said. "I just thought it was a little back pain. But it just didn't feel right, so I said something."
If all goes according to plan, Hill said the injury can be treated without surgery.
