Suddenly, Lakers on Wrist Watch

The Laker season paused uncomfortably for several hours on a bright and chilly Thursday afternoon, long enough for Shaquille O’Neal to drive into Cambridge for diagnostic tests on a wrist whose health threatened the organization’s hopes for a third consecutive NBA title.

O’Neal, the MVP of the last two NBA Finals, was confirmed to have a sprained right wrist and no new breaks, a certain relief to the Lakers with the playoffs two weeks away. A series of X-rays and a CAT scan did reveal two old fractures in O’Neal’s wrist, though they healed long ago and are neither believed to be affecting his current ailment nor slowing his ability to recover.

O’Neal, who did not play Wednesday in a 94-92 loss at New Jersey, is doubtful for tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics. He will receive twice-daily treatment and resume playing when the pain subsides.

In a period in which the seasons of elite players Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan and Vince Carter were ended by serious injury, O’Neal has played on an achy right big toe for most of the season, and recently began to feel tenderness in his wrist.

O’Neal played Tuesday in Washington with a light wrap, and awoke the next morning unable to flex his wrist back. He was examined by Net physicians, who recommended he not play, and Thursday was examined by Dr. Alan Ertel, the Celtic hand specialist, at Mt. Auburn Hospital.

O’Neal said Wednesday that he did not know the origin of the sprain. He took a hard fall over a row of chairs at Staples Center last Friday, though it appeared his right hand was free as he fell on his left side.

While they mulled the chances of resting O’Neal and still holding off the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs for home-court advantage in the second or third round of the playoffs, the Lakers practiced at a downtown Boston gym.

They prepared for the Celtics without Coach Phil Jackson, who, according to a team official, “did not feel well,” and stayed at the team hotel.

Power forward Samaki Walker, who doubles as O’Neal’s backup at center, also did not practice and is doubtful for tonight’s game because of a viral infection that caused severe vomiting Thursday morning.

More than ever, it would appear the Lakers are thinking about getting sound, and finding momentum before the playoffs arrive, and now waiting on O’Neal.

“We know how well we’re capable of playing and how Shaq really kicks it up in the playoffs,” guard Brian Shaw said. “We know that, so we’re not overly concerned if we don’t get it.

“Our main concern is for him to get healthy and get ready. If he had to miss the rest of the games the rest of the way, so be it.”

There was no sense that O’Neal would sit out the last seven games of the regular season. Last year at this time, the Lakers also appeared unstable. Then, Kobe Bryant was recovering from injuries, and the team was recovering from discord. Everything seemed to heal at once.

“This is still a championship team,” assistant coach Frank Hamblen said. “It’s familiar ground to them. I’m sure it’s in the back--or the front--of all of our minds, what happened last year.

“I think we were a little complacent. But now it’s our time to get our acts together.”