Just Call Him the Big Host

An unfortunate schedule has the Lakers playing in Orlando, Fla., the day before Thanksgiving and in Memphis, Tenn., the day after, and so Shaquille O’Neal has invited teammates and other members of the club’s traveling party to his off-season home for a turkey dinner.

The O’Neal estate, in the exclusive Isleworth district of Orlando shared by Tiger Woods and Ken Griffey Jr., is being expanded from 36,000 to 55,000 square feet, though not for the occasion. He is planning on about 40 guests. The team will fly to Memphis afterward.

“I’m going to be home,” O’Neal said. “If I’m home, you gotta make it home for everybody else.”

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Laker rookie Kareem Rush’s best friend and roommate in college was Missouri teammate Josh Kroenke.

Josh’s father, Stan, owns the Nuggets.

“I wanted to play for the Lakers first,” Rush said delicately. “But, if not them, then the Nuggets.”

Before the June draft, Rush worked out for the Nuggets, who instead worked a deal with the New York Knicks for the rights to forward Nene Hilario.

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Robert Horry started at power forward and Soumailia Samake, O’Neal’s choice to become the backup center the Lakers may or may not choose to afford, started at center in Saturday night’s 103-81 exhibition loss to the Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City.

Kobe Bryant had 20 points in 23 minutes. Devean George had 15 points. Samake had a team-high eight rebounds.

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Rick Fox (strained lower back) and Mark Madsen (strained left hamstring) did not suit up.... The Lakers are off today. Their next exhibition game is Thursday night at the Arrowhead Pond against the Golden State Warriors.

Tim Brown

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Point guard Marko Jaric scored seven points and had nine assists in the Clippers’ double-overtime exhibition victory Friday against the Seattle SuperSonics. Gary Payton, Jaric’s counterpart for the SuperSonics, scored 40 points.

Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry was not at all disappointed in Jaric, a Yugoslav rookie playing in his first NBA game.

“I told him after the game, ‘In my opinion, you played against the best point guard in the NBA, bar none,’ ” Gentry said after Saturday’s practice. “I think he sees the talent level you’ve got to get to. Obviously, you don’t expect him to shut down Gary Payton right now. It was a great learning experience for him.”

Gentry was pleased by the way the Clippers, and Jaric and Andre Miller in particular, moved the ball. The Clippers had 27 assists on 41 baskets against the SuperSonics. Last season, the Clippers were 23rd among 29 teams in assists.

“That shouldn’t happen on a team like this,” Gentry said.

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Elton Brand shot baskets very gingerly Saturday, the first time he has done so since having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Sept. 26. He hasn’t been cleared to begin workouts but said his knee is “feeling better.”

The initial estimate was that Brand, the Clippers’ leading scorer and rebounder last season, would be out for at least three weeks. That was adjusted to at least four weeks, but Brand said Saturday, “I’m ready.”

Gentry was more cautious, relying on team doctor Tony Daly’s assessment.

“Elton had his knee looked at the other day and it’s really promising,” he said.

The Clippers face the Memphis Grizzlies at 6 tonight at Staples Center.

Elliott Teaford

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Sacramento King guard Mike Bibby had surgery on his fractured right foot Saturday and is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks.

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New York Knick forward Antonio McDyess injured his left knee in Saturday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. Surgery on the same knee limited McDyess to 10 games last season. The initial diagnosis was a hyperextension, and McDyess was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam late Saturday night.... Veteran forward Charles Oakley, 38, signed a one-year contract with the Washington Wizards.

Associated Press