O’Neal Might Return Tonight

Shaquille O’Neal, who has sat out 12 games because of a strained calf, practiced Tuesday and might make his return tonight against the Seattle SuperSonics.

Nevertheless, the Lakers continue to approach it cautiously. What was thought to be a one-week or two-week injury is up to 26 days and counting after O’Neal tweaked the calf again, trying to come back too soon.

“I felt pretty good,” O’Neal said. “I’ll be re-evaluated [this] morning and hopefully I can play [tonight] but if not then, hopefully on Friday.”

With O’Neal, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant out, the Lakers had only one of their big four left, Gary Payton.

O’Neal hurt himself Jan. 2 in the second quarter of Payton’s homecoming at Seattle, which the Lakers went on to lose.

They then went 5-7 without O’Neal. Bryant sat out six of those because of a shoulder injury, in which the Lakers went 2-4. Bryant returned Saturday in Utah and scored 21 points in a Laker victory.

Bryant didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday, however, and his availability tonight is another of the Lakers’ game-time decisions.

“I don’t know if ‘expect’ is the right word, but I think he [Bryant] wants to play,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “ ... He was worse off on Sunday than he obviously was Saturday. After the game, it bothered him.

“Monday was not a good day for him. We’ll have to see if that abates a little bit.”

The Lakers’ fourth star, Malone, is expected to be out through the All-Star break because of his sore knee. A team spokesman said he still has swelling and won’t see the doctor again until after the break.

For his part, O’Neal says he’s OK, mentally, at least.

“I’m cool,” he said. “I stayed away, worked out, kept my mouth shut, just tried to get better ....

“It’s been real difficult, but you have to deal with certain things, learn how to deal with stuff like this. I’ve always had weird, freak injuries ....

“I wanted to come in this year, do everything right, play the whole season but that didn’t work out. The guys have held up pretty well. Hopefully once I get back in, we can get everybody in and we can get back on track ....

“When the big dog is rested, it likes to come in your yard and bite you in your rear end.”

*

Jackson used to be famous for his disdain of the glitzy All-Star weekend, but here’s further proof he’s mellowing. He actually wanted to coach in this one.

“That was something I actually pointed to,” Jackson said. “I’ve been accused by my assistant coaches of losing games on purpose so I wouldn’t have to go to an All-Star game ....

“This particular one, I really wanted to go to this one. It was at home, even though we share it with Clipper fans. It’s a wonderful place to play and a great place to have an All-Star game.”

He missed by four games, the margin enjoyed by Minnesota’s Flip Saunders on Sunday, which determined the selection. Indiana’s Rick Carlisle will coach the East.

*

With the Lakers No. 5 in the West, having again dropped off the pace, Jackson is eager to avoid a repeat of last season when they finished there. That put them on the road in a grueling first-round series against the Timberwolves that set them up for their second-round defeat by the San Antonio Spurs.

“We have a mission,” Jackson said. “That mission is to win these [two] home games [this week] and go out on the road and find a way to win five of these seven on the road, at least, stay abreast of our opponents in this conference.”

TONIGHT

vs. Seattle, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 26-15, SuperSonics 22-21.

Record vs. SuperSonics -- 0-1.

Update -- The SuperSonics defeated the Lakers, 111-109, on Jan. 2 in the midst of a 6-1 run that carried them to 19-15, this season’s high-water mark, but they have since lost six of nine games. Guard Brent Barry broke a finger in Tuesday’s 118-116 loss to Dallas and won’t play tonight. The Lakers’ Luke Walton had a sore throat and was held out of Tuesday’s practice.