Shaq Out at Least Two More

Shaquille O’Neal has significant swelling in his right calf, according to Thursday’s MRI exam, and will sit out at least two more games.

The Lakers play the Atlanta Hawks tonight and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

O’Neal suffered a strained calf Nov. 21, sat out two games, then had a recurrence of the injury against the Seattle SuperSonics on Jan. 2. He has not played since, sitting out games against the Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, all Laker losses.

The organization has not ruled out O’Neal’s playing against the Nuggets on Wednesday, but, spokesman John Black said, “We don’t want to speculate after the next two games.”

Power forward Karl Malone is in similar limbo, having sprained his right knee Dec. 21. He has been sidelined for seven games, the last three while on the injured list, and so must sit out at least two more. Malone ran the floor and took jump shots Thursday but has yet to perform extensive lateral work, and the club does not know when he will return.

“We’re just not going to push this,” Coach Phil Jackson said of Malone’s recovery.

The Lakers are 1-6 in games Malone has been out because of the injury, and the losses have progressively gotten worse.

“When you get used to playing a certain style of basketball, the void that’s left behind, not having those two big studs back there really changes the physicality of the team,” Jackson said. “We become soft or weak, and weak-minded as a result.”

That being said, Jackson was not apprehensive about another game or two without O’Neal.

“I’d really like these guys to win a ballgame now without him, to show their mettle and their united effort to come back and win a game,” Jackson said, “regardless of whether he’s there or not.

“We’d like to think we had the resolve to work our way through it.”

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Jackson said he would begin to consider changes in the lineup and rotation today, though by Wednesday night he had already appeared to be tinkering.

Devean George started at small forward for the 32nd consecutive game, but for the first time did not start the second half. Kareem Rush started at shooting guard, and Kobe Bryant was moved to small forward.

“Devean’s really in a little tailspin here,” Jackson said. “We just wanted to give him an opportunity to recover and go from another direction. And give us an opportunity to be competitive.”

At times productive in the early season, George had three points and two rebounds in 25 minutes against the Nuggets, a night after he had four points and one rebound against Minnesota. George, who can be run off his game by an early call or two by referees, didn’t score against the Clippers.

“He can work his way through this,” Jackson said. “It’s a matter of regaining confidence. As one of the coaches [said] to Devean, it’s a matter of ... being in the moment and playing in the moment, not worrying about the next shot or whatever else is happening, just getting lost in the game.”

TONIGHT

vs. Atlanta, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 21-11, Hawks 10-26.

Record vs. Hawks (2002-03) -- 1-1.

Update -- The Hawks have lost 11 of 14 but won Sunday night at Denver, something the Lakers were unable to do three nights later. They’ve also won two in a row against the Lakers in Los Angeles. Stephen Jackson is the hot Hawk, averaging 17.6 points over his last five games. Theo Ratliff averages three blocks a game. Shareef Abdur-Rahim leads the Hawks in scoring (19.8) and rebounding (9.6).