Horry Probably Won’t Be Back

Robert Horry probably will not have the 2003-04 option on his contract exercised, according to those familiar with the club’s plans.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak has said he would make personnel decisions after the season, including whether to retain Horry at $5.3 million or allow him to become a free agent. If Horry goes, he would become the sixth free agent on the Lakers’ 13-man roster.

Horry, who will be 33 this summer, has played the last six-plus seasons with the Lakers and in that time earned a reputation as one of the best big-game players on the team.

He struggled this season, however, shooting 38.7%, tying his career low, and 28.8% from the three-point arc -- then had the worst postseason of his career. Horry shot 31.9% and made two of 38 threes, missing his last 24.

Horry, who has a home in Houston and has occasionally mused about finishing his career with the Rockets, said afterward that he did not expect to return.

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Shaquille O’Neal took treatment for his sore knee Wednesday and Thursday, a process that included deep massage, stretching and chiropractic work, after playing in some pain in Game 5.

He met Wednesday with his own therapists, then Thursday with Alex McKechnie, a team physical therapist, and was closer to full strength in Game 6.

Coach Phil Jackson said Thursday that he had talked with O’Neal before boarding the team bus Tuesday night and was satisfied with O’Neal’s recovery attempts. He said he did not know about O’Neal’s knee until after Game 5.

“I asked him about his knee, if it was bothering him,” Jackson said, “and he said, ‘Yes, it was.’ ”

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After 56 seasons as a basketball coach, Laker assistant Tex Winter said after the game that he would retire.

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Rick Fox was released from a New York City hospital Thursday, three days after surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left foot and realign his heel. He will be examined Monday and intends to remain in Manhattan until at least Tuesday.

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Former Laker Ron Harper attended the game, stood in the line of Lakers as the starters were introduced, hugged a few as they went to the floor and sat on the bench.

Asked if he might return to the club to in some capacity next season, Harper said, “Work? I don’t want no job.”