Gasol injury update: Progress shown in tests

Pau Gasol had an ultrasound taken of his right foot and the results show he has continued to heal, but there is still no firm return date from the Los Angeles Lakers, via Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News:

Although an ultrasound taken Tuesday on the torn plantar fascia of his right showed it has continuously healed, Pau Gasol doesn’t have a firm return date.

The Lakers had been optimistic that Gasol was set to make a return Monday when they visited the Phoenix Suns, but Gasol suffered a setback Saturday after participating in two-on-two drills.The Lakers are, however, committing to a "in the next two weeks" line which remains in line with the six-to-eight week timetable that the Lakers initially put on Gasol's injury.

Gasol will continue to participate in workouts over the next two days to stress-test his foot again and go from there, via Lakers reporter Mike Trudell:

Gasol is expected to return sometime in the next two weeks, at earliest on Friday against Washington, depending how he feels throughout the next two days of workouts at the team's facility.

The Lakers have been playing shorthanded with both Gasol and Kobe Bryant missing time, especially considering they've had only one true center active on the roster in Dwight Howard. Should Gasol return Friday he would arrive in time to help the Lakers make their final push through the regular season, which ends April 17.

- Drew

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