Olympics Unlikely for Malone

Karl Malone is leaning toward not playing for the U.S. Olympic team in Athens this summer, a decision he has wrestled with for months.

Those close to Malone believe he will choose a summer spent with his family, rehabilitating his body and preparing for the possibility of another NBA season rather than commit to the travel and daunting schedule of the Olympics. Malone continues to grieve over the loss of his mother, and apparently would like more time to mourn her.

Malone declined to comment Sunday.

Shaquille O’Neal is still thought to be considering playing in the Olympics.

Despite his ongoing legal issues, Kobe Bryant has not notified USA Basketball officials of a change in his plans, and apparently intends to participate. A trial date in Bryant’s felony sexual assault case has not been set.

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Bryant will attend pretrial hearings in Eagle, Colo., today through Wednesday.

Game 5 is Wednesday night at Staples Center. Bryant hopes to return in time for it, but he’ll lose two days of practices.

“This is the time you normally really gear up and spend a lot of time prepping the team for the opponents,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “... We’ll have to stay pretty much status quo during this time. ... I would imagine we’ll hold a lot of things for the day of the game or the evening of the game so he can make those adjustments.”

Jackson admitted, “It hurts the chemistry of the team.”

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Referee Joey Crawford left the floor in the first quarter because of a strained calf, leaving two referees -- David Jones and Bill Spooner -- for the rest of the first half. Crawford returned in the third quarter.

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O’Neal and Bryant were named first-team All-NBA, O’Neal for the sixth time and Bryant for the third consecutive season. Also on the first team: San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett and New Jersey’s Jason Kidd.

In a season in which many of their numbers decreased with the additions of Malone and Gary Payton, O’Neal averaged a career-low 21.5 points, and Bryant averaged 24 points, six off last season’s average and his lowest since 1998-99.

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Devean George started at small forward in place of Rick Fox, who was scoreless in the first three games. George scored eight points and made two of three three-pointers.

Times staff writer J.A. Adande contributed to this report.