Luke Walton, sidelined since last month's exhibition opener because of a torn left hamstring, practiced with the Lakers for the first time in 3 1/2 weeks Friday and said he hoped to play in a game within the next two weeks.

"I'd like to get back before the road trip's over," said Walton, eyeing a four-game swing that starts Tuesday at Atlanta and ends Nov. 14 at Memphis. "But if not then, my personal goal is to at the latest be back by that next home game."

Walton, projected as a possible starter before he was injured, originally was expected to be sidelined for as many as six weeks, so he's slightly ahead of schedule.

"I'm a machine, man," he joked.