Lakers making improvement on injuries

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The Lakers got good news Monday on two injury fronts.

Pau Gasol, out with a strained right hamstring, practiced today and said that if all goes well the next couple of days, ‘hopefully I can play on Thursday.’

Kobe Bryant, who has a strained right groin that limited him during Sunday night’s game, practiced today. Bryant said he will play Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons at Staples Center.

‘It was tight and stuff like that, but it wasn’t enough to keep me out of there,’ Bryant said after practice.

Gasol, who has been out for almost five weeks with the injury, did some full-court action at practice, saying afterward that it was ‘a very positive day.’

Gasol said he hopes to practice again Wednesday, to see where his hamstring stands then.

Luke Walton didn’t practice today because of a sore back and probably won’t play Tuesday night.

After getting out-rebounded Sunday night by the undersized Houston Rockets, who start a 6-6 center in Chuck Hayes, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson wanted his players to work on rebounding.

The Rockets collected 60 rebounds, 13 offensive, including two by guard Kyle Lowry in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers, on the other hand, had just 38 rebounds.

There was a moment during the Lakers’ scrimmage today when Josh Powell got an offensive rebound. Jackson let his players know about that.

‘That’s what beat us last night, guys,’ Jackson barked. ‘You guys have to get the ball. Get the ball!’

-- Broderick Turner