Pau Gasol injury: Lakers forward could be back next week

Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol returned to his "first extensive basketball workout" on Tuesday as he works his way back from a plantar faschia tear, according to the Orange County Register's Kevin Ding. The news adds to the expectation that Gasol could return to the Lakers by next week.

Gasol was seen practicing jumpers with Los Angeles assistant coach Darvin Ham on Tuesday and is expected to go at it again on Wednesday.

Gasol first tore his plantar faschia in a Feb. 5 game against the Brooklyn Nets and the initial diagnosis put his return at six-to-eight weeks. Last Thursday, Gasol was medically cleared to run and said via TwitCam that he had "minimal discomfort."

Tuesday marked the six-week point since the injury, CBS Sports' Ken Berger points out.

He has missed 15 games of action in which the rising Lakers are fighting to gain sole control of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles has gone 10-5 in that span as center Dwight Howard has found his groove.

The Lakers face the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

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