When the doors to the Lakers’ practice facility opened Thursday afternoon and reporters were granted access to the gym, they were treated to the sight of Steve Nash working his magic with the basketball in his hands during the team’s scrimmage.

Nash ran away from Darius Morris’ defensive pressure and darted into the paint before passing to an open Metta World Peace for a jump shot that hit nothing but net. A few moments later, Nash set up Jodie Meeks for a 3-pointer that also was good.

Practice ended a few moments later and Nash provided an update on his recovery from a fractured lower left leg. Actually, it sounded very much like what he’s been saying for the last few days. He might play Saturday, but Christmas Day is more likely.

“I felt pretty good,” said Nash, who was injured in the Lakers’ second game of the season Oct. 31 against the Portland Trail Blazers. “I thought it went well. I felt a little bit better than I thought it would feel, but we’ll see how it feels in the morning.”

Asked specifically about making his return to the starting lineup for Saturday’s game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Nash said, “It depends how it responds tomorrow and see how I feel Saturday when I wake up. We’ll see. We don’t need to rush it. I don’t want to come back too soon.”