O’Neal Is Absent as Bryant Muses

Shaquille O’Neal did not attend practice Wednesday, the day after his two-technical ejection against the Utah Jazz. He called in sick with what a club official called “a migraine or something.”

Already bothered by an arthritic toe and a sprained wrist that, based on his shooting, seems to be healing, O’Neal doesn’t practice much anyway, so he probably wasn’t missed.

Coach Phil Jackson took a day away from the media, possibly for mental health purposes, but for sure to continue his post-All-Star break meetings with each player. Wednesday was power forward Samaki Walker’s turn, and he dashed from practice with full apologies.

Kobe Bryant also did not practice, which is typical for him late in the season, even when relatively healthy. He has played 650 more minutes than the next-closest Laker--O’Neal--and going on 200 minutes more than in any of his previous five seasons.

“I got off my feet,” Bryant said. “I’m going into the playoffs healthy. Gearing up, you know what I mean? I feel good. [Tuesday] night my legs felt great.”

Bryant looked positively 23, both in age and jersey number, against the Jazz, particularly in a handful of possessions in the third quarter.

It seems that Bryant, who is 23, and Brian Shaw, who was that age 13 years ago, have made a running joke of Bryant’s legs.

“I told Brian, ‘I save a lot of my jumping ability,’” he said. “You guys don’t see me out there jumping and doing all that crazy stuff. [Tuesday] night was the first time I’d done it in a long time. I save my legs for seasons down the line. I’m not going to go out and jump myself crazy right now. I’m going to conserve my energy, conserve my legs, build my legs. Now, when I get 27, 28, then I’ll start doing something crazy.”

Shaw knew 23. He reached 27. His legs hadn’t gained anything.

“I told him,” Shaw said, laughing, “it doesn’t work like that.”

The Lakers will raise two banners honoring their past in a halftime ceremony tonight, when they play the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The banners will commemorate the five NBA titles won by the Minneapolis Lakers and their players. George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Slater Martin, Clyde Lovellette, coach John Kundla and Arilee Pollard, the wife of the late Jim Pollard, will be in attendance.

Former Lakers Magic Johnson, Jerry West, James Worthy, Elgin Baylor and Michael Cooper will present the players with championship rings.

Also, the Lakers will wear replicas of the old Minneapolis Laker road uniforms, light blue with gold lettering--MPLS--across the chest.

Given their two most recent games against Minnesota--Target Center losses of 120-102 and 112-101--the Lakers would seem to have something to prove against the Timberwolves, particularly on defense.

“They’re a high-energy team at home,” Derek Fisher said. “There are a lot of teams in the league like that. Like we said then, until they can come here and show us that same type of toughness and energy and moxie and effort that they show in Minnesota, you know, then we’re going to think of it as not personal. It’s business. So, [tonight] is about business. We want to win the rest of these games that are left on the schedule. We’re not going to make too much out of what happened there.”

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The Lakers have won 12 consecutive home games. The club record is 21, set in the 1976-77 season. The organization has five streaks of 17 or more wins.

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TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 55-23, Timberwolves 48-30.

Record vs. Timberwolves--1-2.

Update--The Timberwolves have won two in a row against the Lakers, both in Minnesota. In Los Angeles, the Lakers have won 15 in a row and 21 of 23 games in the series.

Tickets--(800) 462-2849.