Pau Gasol practiced Monday. Translation: Here we go again.

This time, the Lakers forward seemed upbeat that he would not have another setback in his prolonged recovery from a strained right hamstring.

On a day filled with injury news -- Kobe Bryant practiced, but Luke Walton will be out at least six weeks because of an injured back -- Gasol's possible return Thursday against Chicago carried more weight than everything else combined.

"It's possible," Gasol said Monday. "I definitely need a couple days of testing it out and making sure that it's not getting aggravated. I didn't get this far to take another [break] because of trying to do too much too quick and setting myself back again."

Gasol has missed all 10 games this season, though he went through part of a full-court scrimmage Monday and absorbed some contact, good signs for an All-Star who averaged 18.9 points and 9.6 rebounds last season.

"It felt pretty good, actually," Gasol said. "I was happily pleased with everything we did and how my hamstring responded to it."

Gasol has gone through a practice on two separate occasions over the last few weeks, only to report soreness the next day and be forced to dial back his regimen.

"This time it felt different," Gasol said. "I feel pretty confident that [today] will be another good day."

The Lakers (7-3) will take him back, eagerly, knowing they have bogged down after consecutive losses to Denver and Houston. At the same time, Coach Phil Jackson appeared to be mildly frustrated when asked whether tonight's game against Detroit was too early for Gasol to return.

"Not for me, but for him I think it is," Jackson said. "I think he's going to want to have . . . a little more confidence that he can respond or react to things he has to react to."

One injured player will definitely be on the court tonight.

Bryant practiced Monday with no complications from a strained right groin a day after making only five of 20 shots against Houston.

"It was tight and stuff like that, but it wasn't enough to keep me out of there," he said after practice.

Walton, on the other hand, was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in his back that will sideline him at least six weeks. He has been almost a non-factor this season, averaging 3.7 points in 10.6 minutes a game.