Kobe Bryant listed as probable, Steve Nash questionable

SACRAMENTO — It’s a statistic invented for hockey, where sticks, flying pucks and big guys on skates lead to a lot of injuries.

But the Lakers would rival some hockey teams with their “man-games lost to injury” this season — 146 and counting after their 113-103 loss Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Athletic trainer Gary Vitti recently said this was the most injury-filled season he’d experienced in 29 years with the Lakers.

That was before Metta World Peace went down Monday because of torn cartilage in his left knee, sidelining him at least six weeks.

Then Steve Nash was sidelined by what he called a hip spasm and a sore hamstring, leaving Thursday’s game in the third quarter. And Kobe Bryant was limping badly after the game because of a bone spur in his left foot.

The Lakers said Friday that Nash was questionable to play Saturday against the Sacramento Kings, the final stop in a four-game road trip. Bryant was listed more optimistically as probable for the game. Both players received treatment, and Bryant consulted with a local doctor.

Unlike their counterparts in Miami, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, this season has been anything but an 82-game stroll for the Lakers.

Pau Gasol missed 33 games because of a torn tendon in his right foot, knee tendinitis and a concussion. Nash sat out 24 games because of a fracture in his leg, the longest he’d ever been sidelined in 17 seasons in the league.

Dwight Howard missed six games (torn labrum in right shoulder) and Bryant skipped two (severely sprained left ankle).

The reserves weren’t spared, either.

Steve Blake sat out 37 games because of abdominal and groin issues. Jordan Hill has missed 40 games because of a hip injury and two because of back spasms.

All in all, quite a few injuries have accumulated in a “trying year,” Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni recently said. “We just can’t seem to get any traction.” D’Antoni added quickly that “nobody’s feeling sorry for us.”

Said Howard: “It seems like all year when somebody comes [back], somebody goes down. It’s tough.”

Kinder Kobe

Bryant was atypically conciliatory to Milwaukee players during the Lakers’ 113-103 loss Thursday.

He helped up Ish Smith after plowing through him on an offensive foul in the first half. Then he slapped Larry Sanders on the behind as they lined up next to each other for a free throw late in the game.

“Nice job,” Bryant said to Sanders, recognizing hustle when he saw it.

Sanders scored a career-high 21 points and also took 13 rebounds against the Lakers.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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