"There's no one more eager for Steve Nash's return than Kobe Bryant.

The reasons are obvious.

"I won't have to bring the ball up as much. I like facilitating, but I like to score a lot more," Bryant said. "When he comes back, he'll make my life a lot easier."

It remains unclear when that will happen.

The Lakers plan to re-evaluate Nash's fractured left leg sometime today.

Nash has yet to perform any running exercises. The guard also recently expressed doubts he'd play when the Lakers (7-7) host the Indiana Pacers (6-8) on Tuesday at Staples Center. It's possible Bryant could find some relief since Steve Blake might play against Indiana after a lower abdominal strain kept him out for the past seven games.

Bryant has shared ball-handling duties with starting point guard Darius Morris and reserve Chris Duhon. Bryant, who's averaging a league-leading 26.9 points per game, still appears eager to score. But he's also had at least five assists in eight of the Lakers' 14 games.

In the Lakers' 115-89 victory Saturday over the Dallas Mavericks, Bryant took zero field-goal attempts in the first quarter in hopes of involving others early. Metta World Peace responded with 16 points.