Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson said he felt fine Friday after playing his first game in four months Thursday night - Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers.
Nelson played 23 minutes, scoring six points and adding four assists. He played all of the second period, and coach Stan Van Gundy said that was too long and will better monitor Nelson's minutes.
Nelson did double over in the second quarter after absorbing contact, but he was hit in the groin.
"I knew it would be intense," he said. "I just wish everybody would stop asking questions about me, me, me. I'll answer them, but I think the questions should be about the team."
Nelson, who underwent shoulder surgery Feb. 19, said, "We'll have people question whether I should've come back and if it messes up our rotation - X-Y-Z," Nelson said. "But I don't listen to that. I know the organization has confidence in me and my teammates."
Alston's view
Nelson replaced Anthony Johnson as the backup to starter Rafer Alston. Alston said Nelson's return did affect him as he played just 25 minutes, somewhat below his postseason average of 32 minutes per game.
"It's different," Alston said. "We love to have [Nelson] because he's been so much about what this organization is about and turning it around. But it's different when you bring a guy in during the Finals. You don't have much wiggle room for error. ... .
"But this is where we're at, and we have to find a way to adapt and make adjustments quick, and just keep trying to strive forward."
Et cetera
The Lakers expect the Magic to turn in a better effort Sunday. "We won one game. We did what you're supposed to do at home," power forward Pau Gasol said. "We expect them to play a lot better, certainly shoot the ball better. There's a long way to go yet." ... The tip-off of the NBA Finals was huge in the Orlando market. Game 1 posted a 22.2 household rating, meaning the game was seen in 325,000 homes in this market. The game easily surpassed the American Idol finale, which earned a 14.6 household rating in this market last month. In the 25-to-54 age demographic, the Magic-Lakers game scored a 16.4 rating, meaning 245,000 people in that age group were watching.
MAGIC @LAKERS
Game 2
Sunday, 8 p.m.
TV: Chs. 2, 7
