Celtics Title Town

ESPN LA

Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol and guard Steve Nash both returned to practice on Monday and appear close to returning to game action.Gasol, who has been out for close to two weeks resting tendinitis in both knees, said he would play Tuesday night against the Charlotte Bobcats if he feels good after the Lakers' morning shootaround.

Nash has been out since suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left leg Oct. 31. He said Monday that he's hopeful to "play by Christmas" if his leg responds well to the increased activity and he's able to get back into game shape.

The news could not have come at a better time for the struggling Lakers (11-14) who sit 12th in a Western Conference they were expected to dominate despite finishing a a four-game road trip with wins in Washington on Friday and Sunday in Philadelphia.

"It's been two weeks, it's been a while. I miss playing and I miss being out there and competing with my team," Gasol said. "My knees are not in pain as they were. So if there's no need to miss another game, I won't miss another game."

The Lakers will make a run at some point, and that run won't come until they get healthy. I still see the Lakers as the 5th, or 6th seed in the West when it's all said, and done this season.