Walton Hopes to Return During Trip

Luke Walton, sidelined since last month’s exhibition opener because of a torn left hamstring, practiced with the Lakers for the first time in 3 1/2 weeks Friday and said he hoped to play in a game within the next two weeks.

“I’d like to get back before the road trip’s over,” said Walton, eyeing a four-game swing that starts Tuesday at Atlanta and ends Nov. 14 at Memphis. “But if not then, my personal goal is to at the latest be back by that next home game.”

The Lakers, who play the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night at Staples Center, play the New York Knicks on Nov. 16 in their first game after the trip.

Walton, projected as a possible starter before he was injured, originally was expected to be sidelined for as many as six weeks, so he’s slightly ahead of schedule.

“I’m a machine, man,” he joked.

He said he was tired after scrimmaging with his teammates. “I’ve been doing as much conditioning as I can,” he said, “but it’s nothing like playing five-on-five basketball. I got tired kind of quick, and once I did I was kind of hesitant to do some stuff because that’s when you re-hurt it.”

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After two games, the Lakers’ two most prominent big men -- Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm -- are averaging 10.5 points and seven rebounds. Combined.

“We’ve got to get them involved and get them shots and also let them know there are other ways that we can feel their presence on the court,” teammate Lamar Odom said. “It’s not just about scoring.”

It’s also about executing, Coach Phil Jackson said.

“We went through a little video session about getting the ball in the post and trusting our big men to take care of the ball in the post,” he said.

Addressing another Laker shortcoming, Jackson said: “We’re not pleased with the offensive rebounding. That’s a really bothersome item for us because this kind of offense, it really provides a lot of opportunities to rebound.

“Some of that has to do with the movement of the ball and the movement of the players, and some of it just has to do with effort.”

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The Lakers, losers Thursday night after winning Wednesday night at Denver, were 5-14 in the second game when playing on consecutive nights last season.