For the second consecutive October, Lakers forward Luke Walton is facing an early season setback, this time after suffering a severe hamstring strain with three minutes left in Tuesday night's exhibition opener against Golden State.

Walton, who struggled to find a place in then-coach Rudy Tomjanovich's rotation last season after spraining his ankle in training camp, is expected to be sidelined two to six weeks. If he is out six weeks, Walton could miss 10 regular-season games.

Playing in the backcourt, Walton went to take a return pass from Brian Cook off a back-door cut when he came up limping and grabbing the back of his leg. Walton said afterward he never has had a hamstring injury before in his career.

"Last year didn't really work out for me very well," Walton said. "I'm going to take it a day at a time rehabbing it. I'm not going to come back early. I don't want this thing to linger. Whenever I can get back out there, I guess that's when I'll start trying to make up lost time."