No Shaq Turns Into No Practice for Whole Team

Shaquille O’Neal’s left ankle was sore enough Wednesday afternoon that he was unable to practice, a mild setback that, in part, caused Laker Coach Phil Jackson to cancel practice for everyone.

Twelve hours after the buses returned from Tuesday night’s exhibition game at Bakersfield, Jackson gathered his players at midcourt of their El Segundo practice facility and told them to go home.

“The guys who need to practice today aren’t able to,” he told them.

Forward Mark Madsen, whose surgically-repaired left wrist is healing, has an abdominal strain, and also could not practice. Madsen was supposed to return to practice Wednesday for the first time since his July surgery. He recently aggravated an injury in his left side, however, and instead spent the morning under examination by team physician Steve Lombardo.

Madsen is day to day, but probably will sit out at least another week of practice, and seems likely to start the season on the injured list with guard Derek Fisher.

Despite a pregame admission that his left small toe, which required surgery Aug. 29 for a claw-toe deformity, “is killing me,” O’Neal played 20 minutes against the Golden State Warriors.

He appeared winded toward the end of first-and second-half runs, but he scored 17 points and took 10 rebounds.

Afterward he said his left ankle was sore from compensating for the pain in his toe, but predicted it would not interrupt his recovery.

Upon arriving in El Segundo on Wednesday, however, O’Neal asked for and received treatment for his sprained ankle, and notified Jackson that he could not practice.

The Lakers are scheduled to practice this morning, then play exhibition games Friday in San Diego versus the Phoenix Suns and Saturday in Las Vegas versus the Sacramento Kings. O’Neal is expected to play.

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O’Neal said he was struck Tuesday night by the Laker depth, particularly among the shooters.

“I’m very encouraged,” he said. “This is probably the best supporting cast I’ve ever played with.

“Just sitting on the bench, watching guys like Lindsey Hunter and Mitch Richmond shoot the ball, we could have a pretty impressive run.”

The probable starting five--O’Neal, forwards Robert Horry and Rick Fox and guards Kobe Bryant and Hunter--opened the second half against the Golden State Warriors, and outscored them, 37-26, in the third quarter.

“Kobe,” O’Neal said, “is still the best player in the game. He hasn’t changed a bit since last year.”

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The Lakers donated $350,000--net proceeds from ticket sales for Tuesday night’s game, and then some--to the United Way Sept. 11 Fund. ... Tickets are available for next Tuesday’s game at the Pond against the Memphis Grizzlies.