O’Neal Injury Improves Marginally

Shaquille O’Neal spent Tuesday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Laker locker room, missing his second consecutive game on the trip, but experienced slight improvement in his sore right foot.

O’Neal will be unavailable again tonight, when the Lakers play at Minnesota, according to Laker officials, and Thursday he will be examined by Laker physician Phil Kwong, a foot specialist who is expected to administer an MRI and a CT scan.

A New York Knick team doctor diagnosed O’Neal with plantar fasciitis Sunday.

O’Neal received treatment Tuesday, but still limped into Gund Arena 90 minutes before game time and never considered playing.

As he left the arena late Tuesday, O’Neal said he was “a little bit” better. Asked if he was concerned it could be an injury that could disable him for an extended period, he answered, “Not yet.”

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J.R. Rider played six minutes in the second quarter, and was benched after missing each of four shots. Then he played five minutes of the fourth quarter and was benched again.

When he pulled him the second time, Laker Coach Phil Jackson told Rider he wasn’t playing hard enough. Rider finished with two points in 11 minutes.

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Laker Coach Phil Jackson said Madsen will get about 18 minutes a game without O’Neal around, which equates to about three times the annoying moments for the opposing power forward.

“I’m just trying to find a way onto the court, whether it’s 30 seconds or five minutes,” Madsen said. “Right now, it’s with extra effort, Hopefully, in five years, it’s with jump shots and assists. Who knows?”

Madsen took a career-high 10 rebounds in 28 minutes against the Cavaliers.

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The Lakers scored 103.1 points and gave up 97.3 points a game in 16 December games.

Determined to be more competitive, they focused much of their early-January practices on defense.

In 11 January games, however, the Lakers scored six fewer points a game (97.4) and allowed 99.7, an increase of more than two points.

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The league office put off its decision on the Vancouver Grizzlies’ protest another day, and now expects to make an announcement today. At the crux of the protest is a malfunctioning clock in an overtime win for the Lakers on Dec. 15. . . . Cleveland forward Lamond Murray had a sprained left ankle and did not play.

TONIGHT

at Minnesota, 5 PST

Channel 9, TNT

* Site--Target Center, Minneapolis.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 28-15, Timberwolves 28-18.

* Record vs. Timberwolves--1-0.

* Update--The Timberwolves have won seven in a row, and hardly seem to miss Joe Smith, Kevin McHale or Glen Taylor at all. Kevin Garnett averages 22.4 points and 10.9 rebounds. He has 28 double-doubles, as many as Shaquille O’Neal. Guard Terrell Brandon averages 16.5 points and 7.3 assists.