It’s a Big Game for One Team

Shaquille O’Neal got his basketball back and his ceremony this week, but in the throes of Sacramento’s Ball-gate he’d promised, “This is something I won’t forget, and I’ll see you soon.”

The Lakers would be happy to have O’Neal motivated for tonight’s game with the Sacramento Kings, as they are in sixth place in the Western Conference, but even in the loss column with the Minnesota Timberwolves and one loss behind the Portland Trail Blazers.

Besides, it’s the Kings, which often times is enough.

“It’s not a statement game, but it’s a game we need to win,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “They don’t have to win this ballgame. They sewed up the Pacific Division, so it’s not a must game for them. We want to move up in the standings. It’s a must game for us. Any loss now pretty much eliminates our chances to move into the upper bracket.”

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Maverick Coach Don Nelson, on his way out of town Tuesday night: “We’re dumber than a rock as a team sometimes. We [tick] Shaq off. We have an owner who talked about him and got him mad. We got [Nick] Van Exel talking about him and getting him mad. [Shawn] Bradley gets him mad just by showing up. He just hates Bradley for some reason.

“Let sleeping dogs lie was always my plan. When Shaq came to Dallas, he played as well as we’ve seen him play all year. And then the next two games he kind of goes to sleep again and they almost lost both games. So, maybe we’ll learn.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Sacramento, 7, TNT

Site -- Staples Center

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330), KIRN (670).

Records -- Lakers 47-31, Kings 57-22.

Record vs. Kings -- 1-2.

Update -- The Kings have won five in a row and 11 of 12. In the series, the Lakers have won 19 of 26 regular-season games. They have eliminated the Kings in each of the past three postseasons. The Kings have clinched their second consecutive Pacific Division title, the sixth title in franchise history.