Steve Nash sits out of Lakers’ game against Golden State

OAKLAND -- The “Rest Nash” plan began Wednesday.

Steve Nash, the NBA’s oldest point guard, sat out the second night of consecutive games, a trend that could last the entire Lakers season, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Nash, 39, had three points and five assists in 21 minutes of the Lakers’ season-opening victory against the Clippers on Tuesday. He would play Wednesday against Golden State only in an emergency -- if point guards Steve Blake or Jordan Farmar were injured.

“You just hate to lose him but he’s at the stage of his career where you’ve got to be cautious and we need to move it along slowly, make sure that as we go forward he’s ready to go all year,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We don’t want any setbacks early. He could play tonight but we decided this is the way to go for right now.”

Nash has a chronically sore back and also has been bothered by a sore ankle and stiff neck this season.

Blake and Jodie Meeks started in the Lakers’ backcourt Wednesday.

Nash said Tuesday he was open to the concept of skipping certain games.

He won’t necessarily sit out the second game on consecutive nights. The Lakers will look at the schedule as their season progresses and determine which ones Nash will sit out.

The Lakers have 19 back-to-back games this season, including one next week in Houston and New Orleans.

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