Lakers’ Steve Nash out early against Utah with nerve issues in back

For the second straight game, Steve Nash was forced to leave early because of discomfort in his leg and back, related to nerve root irritation.

After playing 16 minutes 35 seconds in the first half, which ended with the Lakers trailing the Utah Jazz, 48-37, Nash sat out the second half. He was replaced by Kendall Marshall.

On Sunday, Nash was hurt during a game against the Chicago Bulls, after getting hit in the knee close to same spot where he suffered a fracture in the second game of last season against the Portland Trail Blazers. The collision triggered a chain reaction, irritating nerves from the knee to his back and hamstring.

Nash played just over 21 minutes in the Lakers’ 92-86 loss to the Bulls, scoring eight points with two assists.

Against the Jazz, Nash scored two points on one-for-four shooting and had two assists.

Nash has played in only 10 games this season, but it’s an important threshold. Because he played in his 10th game Tuesday, if Nash were forced to retire due to medical reasons, his salary wouldn’t come off the Lakers’ books for a full year from his final game played (February 2015).

At nine games (or fewer), Nash’s salary would come off a full year after his final game played last season -- which might have opened up additional spending power for the Lakers in free agency in July. In either cash Nash would receive his full salary.

Nash said recently that he isn’t considering retirement, even with the issues that have plagued him since his Oct. 31, 2012 knee injury.

The 40-year-old guard is under contract for $9.3 million this season and $9.7 million next season.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.