Jordan Hill returns to Lakers’ practice court

Jordan Hill participated in roughly two-thirds of the Lakers’ practice Thursday after he was diagnosed last week with a herniated disc in his back. Hill hasn’t been cleared for contact and won’t play in Friday’s exhibition game against the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas.

The Lakers expect Hill to provide valuable minutes as a backup power forward. Their second unit is heavy on guards and short on size. The Lakers liked Hill’s play after they acquired him from the Houston Rockets in the Derek Fisher trade last March.

“He didn’t do anything live,” Lakers coach Mike Brown said, referring to Hill’s non-contact workout Thursday. “I think he’ll do the non-contact stuff (today), and they’ll probably re-evaluate where he is. They haven’t given me a specific timetable yet.”