Shaquille O'Neal almost surely won't play today against Seattle, making it 13 games he will have missed since straining his right calf Jan. 2.
"I wish we could tell you when Shaq will play," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said after practice Monday. "We're hopeful he can practice tomorrow. He was out on the court today. He's anxious to practice. We're just hoping he can practice."
Wearing a rubber sleeve on his right calf, O'Neal did a little shooting before joining his teammates running baseline to baseline at the conclusion of practice.
He didn't last long in that regard.
"Nothing can replicate when he gets on the court," Jackson said. "That's why we're trying to be cautious. We know that a practice can tell us something at that level."
Lakers spokesman John Black said O'Neal will be re-examined by team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo sometime this week -- maybe as early as Tuesday.
Black said it was "highly unlikely" O'Neal would play against Seattle and wouldn't speculate concerning Friday's game against Minnesota -- the Lakers' last home game until Feb. 17.
Kobe Bryant also sat out practice Monday, but Black said Bryant was listed as probable for Wednesday's game at Staples Center.
Bryant returned Saturday in Utah after missing six games because of a sprained right shoulder. He had 21 points and six assists in 38 minutes to help the Lakers beat the Jazz 93-86 to snap a nine-game road losing streak. Neither O'Neal nor Bryant spoke with reporters.
Karl Malone remains sidelined indefinitely with a sprained ligament in his right knee.
An MRI taken Monday on Jamal Sampson's right ankle revealed nothing more serious than a sprain. Black said Sampson probably won't play until next Sunday at the earliest, when the Lakers begin a seven-game road trip in Toronto.
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