While Pau Gasol will likely miss two more games for the Los Angeles Lakers, he believes that he is probable to return on Dec. 22 against the Golden State Warriors.

"I'm feeling better," Gasol said on Friday. "We don't want to risk going back to the way it was before. We're taking it one step at a time so we won't have any setbacks and I won't have to be out any longer than I need to.

"There's no 'definites' right now."

Gasol, who is averaging just 12.6 points on 42 percent shooting, has sat out seven straight games because of knee tendinitis. The Lakers are 2-5 without Gasol in the lineup.