Shaq’s Status Still Uncertain

Shaquille O’Neal sat out Monday night when the Lakers returned to practice after the all-star break, but an examination by team physician Steve Lombardo earlier in the day showed that O’Neal’s sprained knee ligament is “much improved,” a spokesman said.

Whether it has improved enough for O’Neal to play Wednesday at Minnesota will be determined today, after more tests and therapy. The treadmill work Monday was the first time he has run since suffering the injury Feb. 2, when he collided colliding with Washington’s Gheorghe Muresan, so Lombardo wants to see how the right leg reacts before clearing O’Neal.

The decision that comes could actually determine O’Neal’s fate for the next two games. He will either be on the afternoon charter flight to Minneapolis and have a good chance to play against the Timberwolves or at Denver on the second night of the back-to-back games, or be left behind for more rehabilitation and rest for the joint. The Lakers would then hope he could return for Sunday afternoon’s national-television showdown against the Seattle SuperSonics at the Forum.

The injury has already cost O’Neal two games, a loss to the Clippers and a victory over the Bulls, and the just-completed All-Star weekend in Cleveland. He not only would have played in the game, his first appearance representing the Western Conference, but also taken part in festivities that saluted those chosen as one of the 50 greatest players in league history, including a halftime presentation that brought most all the honorees together.