Bryant Delayed and Misses Practice

For the second time in as many days, bad weather proved more powerful than the Lakers.

Coach Phil Jackson moved Thursday’s practice to later in the day, hoping Kobe Bryant could get back from Colorado in time to attend. Bryant was in Eagle on Thursday morning for a court procedure related to his sexual assault trial.

But a snowstorm delayed his return flight, and he was absent anyway.

“There was nothing we could do about that,” Jackson said.

Bryant arrived at the team’s El Segundo training center around 2 p.m., after practice had ended.

“He had to take care of business,” center Shaquille O’Neal said, “but he’s back now, and we’re all on the same page.”

Bryant travels to and from Colorado for court matters on a private jet, the expenses split between him and the team.

On Wednesday night, four Lakers -- O’Neal, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher and Kareem Rush -- arrived late at Staples Center for their game against the Toronto Raptors because of a traffic snarl caused by heavy rain.

All four were fined by Jackson. “You have to plan for all kinds of situations like that,” Jackson said. “That’s part of the deal.”

Fisher said he knew better than to plead his case to his coach.

“That doesn’t work,” he said. “I knew when I walked in that I would have to make an endowment. But after seeing all the accidents, people sliding all over the road, blowing their horns, I was just glad to get into the safety of the locker room.”

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Forward Karl Malone says he’ll play tonight, despite a sore hamstring that prompted him to sit out part of practice.

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Promoting the opening of balloting for this season’s All-Star game, to be held Feb. 15 at Staples Center, four Lakers, all on the ballot, cast their votes in front of the cameras at their training facility.

O’Neal and Malone voted for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, Fisher and Payton for the West. Their votes:

* O’Neal selected Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets, and Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic, at guard; Kenyon Martin, Nets, and Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors, at forward; and Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons, at center.

* Malone chose Carter and Kidd, adding guards Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers, and Baron Davis, New Orleans Hornets, and forward Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers.

No center?

“It doesn’t matter,” Malone said. “The first guy to get the ball will just shoot, like they do now.”

* Payton picked himself and Bryant at guard, along with teammates Malone and O’Neal, his fifth selection being forward Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

* Fisher also went with Payton, Bryant, Malone and O’Neal, his fifth slot going to forward Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs.

“I didn’t vote for myself because I was told it’s a recall ballot,” Fisher said. “If the recall goes through, I’ll vote for myself on the next ballot.”

TONIGHT

vs. Detroit, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 6-2, Pistons 5-3.

Records vs. Pistons (2002-03) -- 1-1.

Update -- With Larry Brown coaching, the Pistons will try to break a five-game losing streak in Los Angeles. Detroit hasn’t won on the Lakers’ home court since the 1996-97 season, and only once in the last 10 years.