Horace Grant will try to play near the end of the regular season and in the playoffs despite a hip injury that can be repaired only by surgery, Dr. Joseph McCarthy said Friday.

McCarthy, an arthroscopic surgeon at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, examined Grant on Friday and confirmed a tear in the front of the labrum, an injury, McCarthy said, "that does not generally repair itself."

If Grant had surgery immediately, he probably would not be able to return for the playoffs. As it is, Grant will rest and rehabilitate the area for the next two or three weeks, the Lakers said, and delay surgery until after the season. By mid-April, the Lakers would have to be able to gauge Grant's postseason readiness, for the purposes of their playoff roster.

"He's doing somewhat better right now because he hasn't been as active, so the swelling has gone down," McCarthy said. "Horace, being the competitor he is, wants desperately to help the Lakers, particularly in the playoffs. He understands it's a very delicate balance?. But, given the fact his hip has quieted down, he wants to give it a go. [Team physician] Steve Lombardo and I talked about it and thought it was reasonable to give it a try."