The Lakers received a well-needed stocking stuffer.
After fielding zero healthy point guards for the past 10 games, Lakers guard Jordan Farmar boosted the team’s holiday cheer by returning for the team’s Christmas Day game against the Miami Heat at Staples Center after missing the previous 10 games because of a hamstring injury. Farmar didn’t exactly provide a lump of coal for the Lakers. But in the Lakers’ 101-95 loss to the Heat, Farmar provided a gift that entails some assembly required.
Farmar posted three points on 1-of-7 shooting with two assists and four turnovers in 32 minutes. That marks as a far cry from the 9.2 points and 4.4 assists he averaged in 18.9 minutes before hurting his hamstring.
“If I could have contributed offensively, I think we would have been right there playing for the win at the end of the game,” Farmar said. “I’m bummed that it didn’t work out the way I would have liked, but I understand what’s at stake or what happened out here. I hadn’t played basketball for quite a while, so it’s just a matter of time before I get back into my rhythm.”
Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni called the performance “rusty,” but anticipated Farmar will round into form within the next week.
“He got through the game without getting hurt,” D’Antoni said. “That’s the most important thing.”
It’s also important to point out that Farmar hadn’t played since injuring the hamstring Dec. 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers. Since then, his rehab mostly entailed rest before progressing into shooting and running drills. Farmar also fit in games of three-on-three, but didn’t have any full-court five-on-five practice sessions before his return.
His lack of timing and rhythm played out when Farmar committed a traveling violation as the Lakers trailed, 94-88, with 2:34 remaining. He then missed a wide-open 3-pointer that could’ve reduced Miami’s lead to three points with 30 seconds.
“I’ll take a lot of the responsibility,” Farmar said. “Just being out of sync and not contributing the way I should I have. But at the same time, I think it’s progress after not playing for almost a month and getting back out there and staying healthy. I look forward to shaking the rust off pretty soon.”
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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com