Mourning Big in Shaq’s Eyes

Shaquille O’Neal, who has parried verbally with Alonzo Mourning throughout their NBA careers, praised the Miami Heat center a day before today’s anticipated matchup.

“He’s a great player, a great shot blocker,” O’Neal said of Mourning, who missed Miami’s last three games because of a sore left ankle but has told reporters he expects to play against O’Neal and the Lakers.

“Against very good players like him, you just have to take it strong to him. . . . When I play against the best, it brings the best out of me. So, hopefully, I can have a good game [today]. I’ve been playing pretty well.”

So there’s nothing personal in the showdown?

“Personal? No,” O’Neal said. “But on the court, we’re just two competitive big guys just trying to win. It probably looks ugly at times, but in real life, it’s nothing ugly at all.”

Laker Coach Phil Jackson said he looks forward to the matchup but hopes O’Neal isn’t over-eager against Mourning.

“I just don’t want him to get in foul trouble if he’s too keyed up,” Jackson said. “There’s not a lot of resources we have behind him to stop Mourning.”

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In winning their 14th in a row Friday, the Lakers--who had a 16-game winning streak in December and January--became only the third team in NBA history to record two winning streaks of 14 games or more in a season.

The 1946-47 Washington Capitols had streaks of 17 and 15, and the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks had streaks of 20 and 16, and another lasting 10 games, to boot.

TODAY

vs. Miami, 3 p.m., Ch. 4

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 48-11, Heat 37-21.

* Record vs. Heat (1999)--Did not play.

* Update--Miami has won five of its last six, including victories over New York and at Seattle last week without Mourning, who is the team’s leading scorer (22.5 points a game) and rebounder (9.6) and is the leading shot blocker in the league (4.11).

* Tickets--Sold out.