O’Neal Wins Duel With the Admiral

What’s a mortal to do?

“Pray,” Laker Robert Horry said.

Then it was a good thing the man across from Shaquille O’Neal on Thursday night, as one of the best matchups in the NBA resumed after a one-season hiatus, was a religious man. David Robinson had little else to do after surrendering such deep post position to O’Neal on numerous occasions, several of which led to dunks as the Laker center outscored the San Antonio center, 34-27, at the Alamodome.

Injuries having cost Robinson all but six games last season, this was their first meeting since Feb. 4, 1996, and the first with O’Neal as a Laker. Robinson noticed the difference since then, calling O’Neal “much improved.”

O’Neal noticed another difference. Asked if he now has a big physical edge over Robinson, he rubbed his left biceps with his right arm.

“Yeah,” O’Neal said, grinning. “Something like that.”

TONIGHT

at Houston

* 5

* Channel 9

Site--Compaq Center.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 6-0, Rockets 3-3.

Record vs. Rockets (1996-97)--1-3.

Update--Kobe Bryant will not join the Lakers for the finale of the three-game Texas trip, but he has been cleared to practice Saturday after missing the last two games because of a sprained ankle. If that workout goes well, he should be able to return Sunday against the Vancouver Grizzlies at the Forum. Meanwhile, Corie Blount, who also sat out Tuesday’s game at Dallas because of a sprained ankle, played 18 minutes Thursday in San Antonio. This concludes the Lakers’ first back-to-back of the season.