Walton Gets Back in Game

Luke Walton arrived at Staples Center and found something unusual hanging in his locker.

A game jersey.

It had been almost seven weeks since Walton hobbled off the court in the Lakers’ exhibition opener with a severely strained left hamstring. The hamstring healed, but then came a strained hip flexor, setting back his return an additional two weeks.

Walton, who signed a two-year, $2.5-million contract during the off-season to stay with the Lakers, finally played his first game of the season Sunday against the New Jersey Nets.

“It’s been real tough,” Walton said. “You spend the whole off-season getting ready to go.... You’re excited for the season and you get some injuries you can’t do anything about. It’s been too long. Hopefully I can be injury-free the rest of the season.”

Walton, who entered with 2:43 left in the first quarter, finished with eight points, seven rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes.

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Aaron McKie is averaging 0.3 points and 0.6 assists, but Coach Phil Jackson still hopes the 12-year veteran will become a regular contributor.

“He’s looking better,” Jackson said. “Things are happening out there for him a bit. He’s learning this offense.”

McKie averaged only 2.2 points last season for Philadelphia before he was waived via the one-time “amnesty” clause of the new collective bargaining agreement. McKie, 32, signed a two-year, $5-million contract with the Lakers.

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Injured forwards Kwame Brown and Devean George are not expected to make the two-game trip to San Antonio and Utah, Jackson said.

Brown has sat out three games because of a strained right hamstring and George has sat out two games because of a sore left foot.