Orlando point guard Jameer Nelson returns from shoulder injury for Game 1 of NBA finals

Nelson returns from shoulder injury for Game 1

LOS ANGELES — All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson returned to the Orlando Magic for Game 1 of the NBA finals, playing the entire second quarter before struggling in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

Nelson finished with six points on 3-of-9 shooting in 23 minutes of the Magic’s 100-75 loss.

“I thought he played well in the second quarter. I was happy. I thought he was getting in the paint on his pick-and-rolls,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I thought he was making really good plays.”

“And then in the second half I didn’t think he was very good at all, made one good play right at the start of the second half, and then I think he was forcing shots and plays after that, turned the ball over. I just didn’t think he was very good in the second half.”

Nelson started the second quarter, his first action in four months, and provided a quick spark. He assisted on Marcin Gortat’s dunk for Orlando’s first basket of the period, then fed Rashard Lewis for a 3-pointer. Nelson then knocked down a jumper and set up Courtney Lee’s layup, giving the Magic a 33-28 lead.

Nelson scored four points on 2-of-4 shooting and added four assists in the period.

“I felt good. My rhythm was a little off but it was good to be back out there,” Nelson said. “I thought I did some good things, and I also thought I did some bad things.”

The Magic activated Nelson earlier in the day. He served as the backup behind Rafer Alston, whom the Magic acquired in February shortly after Nelson went down with what was expected to be a season-ending shoulder injury.

But Nelson has been working out with the team for weeks and began taking part in full-court drills during the Eastern Conference finals.

Van Gundy said the easiest decision would have been to keep Nelson on the sideline to avoid messing with the Magic’s chemistry, but he felt his point guard had been making progress every day and it was worth the risk to play him.

“In the end we just think he’s ready to go,” Van Gundy said before the game.

Nelson tore the labrum in his right shoulder on Feb. 2 and had surgery 17 days later. He was expected to be off the court until August, but recovered quickly and has regained his range of motion.

Nelson averaged 27.5 points in Orlando’s two wins over the Lakers during the regular season, and he’ll get another chance to shake off the rust and play well for an entire game.

“I don’t think you lay a 25-point loss on Jameer at all,” Van Gundy said. “I thought, again, in the second quarter, I thought especially when he first got in the game he played really, really well.”