O’Neal May Practice Monday

Shaquille O’Neal’s sore right arch has improved enough that the Lakers expect him to practice in New York on Monday.

If he recovers from the practice without complications, O’Neal could play up to 25 minutes on Tuesday night against the New Jersey Nets. Doctors recommended that O’Neal play about 25 minutes for his first few games back, though there does not appear to be danger of further injury.

Dr. Phillip Kwong, a foot specialist, examined O’Neal on Wednesday morning. O’Neal did not comment before Wednesday night’s game. Laker officials said Kwong, who last examined O’Neal on Feb. 1, was pleased with the healing process. Apparently, O’Neal’s range of motion has improved and he is experiencing less pain.

“If he continues at this rate,” spokesman John Black said, “he’ll be cleared to practice Monday.”

O’Neal was to fly this morning to Washington, where he will attend the All-Star game. Voted the Western Conference’s starting center, O’Neal was replaced Wednesday by Sacramento’s Vlade Divac.

Laker trainer Gary Vitti will accompany O’Neal in order to administer treatment throughout the weekend.

“We’ll see how he responds to that,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “There will probably be some limitations to what he plays as we start out again.”

While O’Neal has not played or practiced since Jan. 26, when the pain became debilitating, he has maintained some level of fitness.

“I think he’ll do OK,” Jackson said. “I’m not going to play him long minutes consecutively for a while. There’ll be an adjustment period for him, conditioning-wise, but I think it’ll be all right.”

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Surrounded by reporters when J.R. Rider arrived, Jackson pulled back his left sleeve and took a long, dramatic look at his watch.

It was 6:13 p.m., so Rider was 13 minutes late. Jackson shrugged.

Rider, presumably, would be fined.

This has been a difficult period for the mercurial Rider, who on Jan. 27 missed the team charter to New York and on Friday was late to a shoot-around because of car trouble.

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The Lakers Youth Foundation presented a check to the Jim Murray Memorial Youth Foundation at halftime of Wednesday night’s game. Linda McCoy-Murray, widow of the longtime Times columnist, accepted the check.

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O’Neal has signed an endorsement contract with eBizJets, a provider of private jet services. Texas Ranger shortstop Alex Rodriguez also has an endorsement deal with the company.