Jordan Farmar expected to stay sidelined for a month with torn left hamstring

Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar (1) reacts after a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., Friday, Nov. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar (1) reacts after a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., Friday, Nov. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

An ultrasound taken Monday showed that Lakers backup point guard Jordan Farmar tore his left hamstring, an injury the Lakers expect will keep him sidelined for about a month.

Should that timetable hold up, Farmar would miss the next 13 games and return when the Lakers host the Milwaukee Bucks New Year’s Eve at Staples Center. Farmar played in only one minute of the Lakers’ 114-108 loss Sunday to the Portland Trail Blazers before leaving the game midway through the first quarter on his own accord. Meanwhile, Lakers center Pau Gasol received an MRI on his sprained right ankle, which is considered mild.

Farmar’s absence adds further strain to a Lakers backcourt already dealing with injuries to Kobe Bryant (left Achilles tendon) and Steve Nash (back). Fortunately for the Lakers, Bryant and Nash are expected to begin practice Tuesday leading up to Friday’s game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. Unfortunately for the Lakers, it’s currently unclear whether Bryant and Nash will practice well enough to return by then.

Farmar had provided consistent energy off the bench, averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 19 minutes in 18 games this season. That leaves Steve Blake as the only true point guard on the Lakers rotation. Although he’s averaged 10 points on 40.6 percent shooting and 7.7 assists per game through 31 minutes, Blake will likely need some support. In the Lakers ‘loss to Portland, coach Mike D’Antoni featured Xavier Henry and Jodie Meeks playing the point guard position in stretches. Though both combined for 47 points, Henry and Meeks made consecutive turnovers in the final three minutes of the game.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com