Malone Develops His Game Plan for Duncan

Karl Malone sat Wednesday night with his feet in a bucket of ice water, as he does after every game.

He mused merrily about a day out of practice and off of his bothersome left hamstring, Thanksgiving dinner with his wife and children and, then, on to one of the reasons he is here, a Laker after all these years.

Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs arrived Thursday for tonight’s game between the last five NBA champions, the Lakers a season removed from the last of their three consecutive titles.

Malone, at 40 straining for a piece of a championship of his own, gets Duncan, perhaps the most critical element of what lies ahead for the Lakers.

He grinned.

“They just won it and he’s the MVP,” Malone said with an enough-said expression. “But, I’m not going into this game just thinking about defense. If he’s guarding me, I’m going to make him play me on the offensive end too, and try to take a little away from him. I’m not going to let him have free rein on the defensive end.

“You have to put pressure on him. He’s going to get his points. You’re not going to stop him. You want to contain him and play him as solid as you can. You bring him back to the middle, you expect help. But, I’m not going in thinking I’m going to get help all the time, because I think that’s a cop out. You’ve got to go out and try to make him work.... Hopefully, if that’s the case, later on in the game he doesn’t have the same spring he has early on.”

In eight games since suffering his hamstring injury, Malone has averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds.

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At the conclusion of the Nov. 6 game in San Antonio, which the Lakers won in double overtime, a handful of Lakers rushed to Robert Horry, a favored teammate for seven seasons.

Horry returns to Staples Center tonight, his first game in the arena since Laker management declined to pick up this season’s contract option.

“Robert’s there,” Derek Fisher said. “That’ll be difficult for me, going up against him on our home court after being with him for so many years. I’m sure there’ll be some emotions for both teams come [tonight]. They’re probably upset they have to travel for Thanksgiving.”

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TONIGHT

vs. San Antonio Spurs

7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net, ESPN

Site -- Staples Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 12-3, Spurs 9-6.

Record vs. Spurs -- 1-0.

Update -- The Spurs start Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan and Rasho Nesterovic in the front court, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker in the backcourt. Parker, the point guard who missed the Lakers’ double-overtime win in San Antonio three weeks ago, has been effective though his left ankle remains tender. Duncan, another left-ankle casualty, averages 21.4 points and 12.3 rebounds. Ron Mercer was activated from the injured list this week and could see minutes at the guard spots. Ginobili had 33 points and 12 rebounds, both career highs, in the teams’ first meeting. In 14 games, Robert Horry has averaged 4.4 points and is shooting 34.9% from the floor, 38.9% from three-point range.