Nick Young expects to return Friday from knee injury

Nick Young said he expects to play Friday night when the Lakers (22-45) host the Washington Wizards (35-22).

“I’m feeling good,� Nick Young said. “Ain’t too much Swaggy can’t do out there.�

Young, who gave himself the nickname “Swaggy P,� fractured his left patella (kneecap) on Feb. 5 in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After returning Feb. 23, playing 19½ minutes against the Brooklyn Nets, Young went back to the sideline after feeling discomfort in the knee.

“I’m just going to be out there, doing my thing, smiling,� said Young, who will play against the team that drafted him with the 16th overall pick in 2007. “I’ll probably get a tech tomorrow.�

Young added: “It’s always fun playing against your old team, but we’ve just got to finish this year off, not being the worst team in Lakers history. I talked to Pau [Gasol] about it. He’s been on me about coming back.�

The 1974-75 Lakers won just 30 games. At 22-45, the Lakers would need to finish at 8-7 just to tie the franchise record for futility.

The Lakers have won just three of their last 15 games.

Coach Mike D’Antoni said that Young will come off the bench.

“He could be rusty,� D’Antoni said. “You just play it by ear. As long as he’s playing well, then he’ll stay on the floor. ... It’s good to get him back.�

The Lakers may also get Jordan Hill back from a knee injury that has kept him out since Feb. 28.

“I haven’t talked to Jordan, but I’ve heard he’s playing too,� D’Antoni said. “Hopefully both of them will be ready.�

The Lakers even had Steve Nash at practice on Thursday. D’Antoni had recently admitted he didn’t expect Nash to play again this season and a groin injury to Jordan Farmar has left Kendall Marshall as the team’s only healthy point guard.

“He went through all of practice. He’s getting a little bit closer,� said D’Antoni of Nash. “It’s a possibility. We’re not saying yea or nay, but we’re trying to work him back.�

The Lakers suffered another injury on Wednesday. Chris Kaman was unavailable with a foot injury when the team hosted the San Antonio Spurs.

“He was scratched,� D’Antoni said of Kaman. “I think he’s getting an MRI.�

The Lakers are in 14th place in the Western Conference with the fifth worst overall record in the NBA.

“I’m not used to this at all,� Young said. “I know it’s tough for the fans, especially when you see the other team across from us doing so well, and we getting blown out by 50 by them, it’s sad and it’s frustrating.�

The Lakers recently fell to the Clippers (48-21), 142-92, in the worst losing margin in franchise history.

“Stick with us,� Young said. “Everybody has a down time, but you have [nowhere] to look but up.�

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.