Malone’s Absence Extended

Although the Lakers hope to have Shaquille O’Neal in the lineup by Wednesday or Friday, they are beginning to consider the likelihood of two or three more weeks of rehabilitation for Karl Malone.

Malone, who sprained his knee Dec. 21, missed his ninth consecutive game Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers and his 10th this season. In 18 previous seasons, all with the Utah Jazz, Malone missed 10 games.

Malone sought and received a second opinion on his injury recently and said he came away convinced that the recovery time should be measured in weeks, not days. In that scenario, Malone probably would not be ready to play when the Lakers play at Utah on Jan. 24, a game notable for his return to his original team’s city.

Team officials said they no longer would speak in terms of a return date for Malone, but privately allowed for at least two more weeks on the injured list. Malone said he was “frustrated” by his time away from the floor, but satisfied he was on the proper course after pushing his rehabilitation in the early stages.

Malone made significant progress in the first days after suffering the injury, causing the early optimism from Phil Jackson and team medical personnel. And although there has been steady progress since, Malone remains limited in his lateral movement, during which he experiences a wobbly sensation.

O’Neal said he is “close” to recovering from his strained calf. Asked if that meant he’d play as soon as Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets or, perhaps, Friday against the Sacramento Kings, he said, “Hopefully both.”

He said he is about 65% healed, “65-point-292,” he said, and wanted to be at 80% before he played. Also, after years of swearing off anti-inflammatory medication, he said he is on it again. “Just keeps calling me,” he said, grinning.

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Horace Grant said he would leave the team Thursday morning and “probably” miss the game against the Kings, and perhaps Saturday’s against the Clippers, to be with his ailing father, Harvey, who is home in Sparta, Ga.

Harvey, 65, will undergo a series of tests beginning Wednesday morning. Grant said his father awoke in considerable pain Sunday morning and was unable to move. He considered flying to Atlanta on Sunday, but did not, instead receiving periodic updates from his sister Bonnie.

“He’s a proud man,” Horace said of his father. “He has to be really hurting to go to the hospital.”

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With still six more days of All-Star balloting, Kobe Bryant continues to lead the Western Conference in votes received.

Yao Ming has closed to within about 24,000 votes of O’Neal, however, for a game that will be held at Staples Center on Feb. 15. Although O’Neal averages 20 points and 11.6 rebounds, well ahead of Yao’s 15.3 and 8.9 for Houston, O’Neal has missed seven of the Lakers’ 34 games. Yao has played in all 36 of the Rockets’.

If Yao keeps coming, it appears Bryant would be the Lakers’ only starter. O’Neal said starting the All-Star game in Los Angeles was unimportant to him. “Doesn’t matter,” he said. “You can’t compete with where he’s from.”

Though it once seemed Jackson was certain to coach the West team, an honor he often prefers to avoid, he has been overtaken in the standings by San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich and Minnesota’s Flip Saunders. Sacramento’s Rick Adelman coached the West All-Stars last year. The NBA does not allow a coach to serve in consecutive seasons.

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Donald Trump was a guest of Laker owner Jerry Buss at dinner before Monday night’s game, and then watched the Lakers play the Cavaliers from a courtside seat.