Maybe He’ll Bag a Boxing Career

Don King need not bother to call--if he hasn’t already. The heavyweight division will apparently have to carry on without Shaquille O’Neal, who will at least have the pride of ending his boxing career undefeated.

Though the hairline fracture of the right wrist won’t force O’Neal to miss any playing time, because the strained abdominal muscle will take care of the next two weeks or so anyway, figure his days of punching a heavy bag are over. He will instead have to get by with workouts supervised by Steve Lombardo, the Laker team physician who thus far has kept O’Neal from returning, and not Ferdie Pacheco.

“It might be appropriate for someone else to do,” General Manager Mitch Kupchak said of O’Neal hitting a heavy bag as a form of conditioning. “But not for someone who needs his hands. And we think he knows that now.”

He at least knows enough to stay away from the big game. That much was determined when O’Neal, who is still able to shoot despite the injury to his right wrist, was asked if he was on the heavy bag to get ready to take on Evander Holyfield.

“No,” he said. “Lombardo.”

*

It could be a minor notation, or enough to offer encouragement: Robert Horry has made three-point baskets in consecutive games for the first time in about five weeks.

He wasn’t counted on to be a major factor there after becoming a power forward and more of a back-to-the-basket player this season, but he also wasn’t expected to be a nonentity, so recent events may translate to hope for Horry and the Lakers.

“He looks stronger at it,” Coach Del Harris said. “He looks more confident when he lifts it.”

Said Horry, shooting only 20.5% on three-pointers after being a threat there most of his career: “Now, if I’m open, I’m taking it. The only way to get out of a slump is if you shoot.”

TONIGHT

Lakers vs. Clippers

* 7:30

* Fox Sports

West, Ch. 9

Site--Forum.

Radio--KLAC (570), KEZY-FM (95.9), LITE-FM (92.7).

Records--Lakers 21-6, Clippers 5-23.

Season series--Lakers, 1-0.

Update--The Lakers open a five-game home stand, their longest of the season, after having the last three days off, rest much appreciated as it came after the stretch of six games in nine days. They are 10-1 at the Forum, one of the victories having come Nov. 23 against the Clippers.