Steve Nash ruled out for rest of year

First it was Kobe Bryant, now Steve Nash has been ruled out for the rest of the season, due to persisting nerve issues in his back.

Coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters at the Lakers' morning shootaround in Oklahoma City that Nash will not play in the final 18 games of the season, after appearing in just 10.

"I think he’s a little bit in the same boat Kobe is," D'Antoni said of Nash. "Make sure he’s ready for next year, if that’s what he wants to do. Get him 100 percent well. It really makes no sense right now to force him into something that he's probably not ready to do.”