Van Exel’s Knee Is Good Enough

Nick Van Exel returned to action and the starting lineup Saturday night, playing 33 minutes and scoring 23 points against the Miami Heat after he had been forced out of the previous game and three of the last four practices because of soreness in the left knee.

“It’s just a question of knowing when to play him,” Coach Del Harris said. “I asked him the other day how many minutes he thinks he ought to play [against the Heat], and he said 48. You just do what you can. Get him in and get him out.”

And hope he lasts to summer. It’s the uncertainty that makes it a particular dilemma for Harris, knowing that time restrictions from doctors would do no good because Van Exel could have problems with the troublesome knee playing 20 minutes.

That Harris leaves part of the decision-making process up to Van Exel also explains why the Lakers were without their point guard Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets and had him back for the Heat. Not because of the opponent.

“That was Nick’s decision,” the coach said. “He said it hurt and he felt like he couldn’t go. When a player comes to me and says he can’t go, that’s all I need to hear.”

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With one more update to come in a few days before final results are released Jan. 25, Eddie Jones has lost his spot in the Western Conference starting backcourt to Minnesota’s Stephon Marbury, according to the latest balloting for the all-star game.

Jones can still regain the spot--Gary Payton all but has the other spot locked up--but the Lakers could also be depending solely on the vote of conference coaches to determine their representation for Feb. 8 in New York. Shaquille O’Neal trailed David Robinson at center in the most recent returns, Kobe Bryant was fifth and Van Exel had dropped to eighth.