Malone Gets a Pickup From Workout

The Lakers’ Karl Malone has been through many harder workouts than the one he experienced Saturday, but the pickup games he played at less than full speed gave him exactly what he needed.

After his first practice since he tore his right medial collateral ligament on Dec. 21, Malone said the only aches and pains he felt were because of age and not from his rehabilitated knee.

“I’ll be back sooner than later,” said Malone, who still is not expected to return from the injured list for another week.

“I was excited to get back out there. I appreciate my teammates for staying around for some pickup games.”

With Coach Phil Jackson and assistants Jim Cleamons and Tex Winters closely watching, Malone matched up against rookie Brian Cook and participated in several half-court games with teammates Bryon Russell, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton and Kareem Rush.

“He looked like the same player as before,” Cook said. “He’s been shooting and doing other things to stay in shape. He’s such a hard worker, you knew that he’d be ready to play.”

Although he didn’t have to run the length of the court, Malone moved well. He made more shots than he missed and his energy level was high. Malone made several lateral moves and awkward jumps with his knee holding up well.

“We didn’t do a whole lot of up-and-down stuff ... but he looked good doing basketball activity,” Jackson said. “He sustained the effort.... He [didn’t make all] his shots and he was angry at himself for that, but that’s OK. That’s the type of rust that comes on a player when he hasn’t played in a game-type situation.”

For Malone, the experience was odd in more ways than one.

“I never play in pickup games,” he said. “I used to when I was growing up ... but not many times since I’ve become a professional athlete.

“But the workout was more than what I expected [and the knee] was a lot better than I thought it would be. Give me a week, and then I’ll see.”

*

The Lakers could use Malone because their depleted frontcourt has only three healthy big men in Shaquille O’Neal, Slava Medvedenko and Cook.

Power forward Horace Grant will be sidelined indefinitely because of a right hip injury, and Jamal Sampson, who hasn’t played since late January, is recovering from surgery on his right ankle.

For the veteran Grant, the key is being healthy once the postseason starts.

“I feel good, but I’m not ready to play,” Grant said. “I’m going to start rehab [today] or Monday and we’ll go from there.”

*

O’Neal, who turned 32 Saturday, did not work out with his teammates but did show up at the team’s training center in El Segundo.

With a crowd of fans waiting outside the gate with gifts, cakes and balloons, O’Neal arrived wearing a vintage Kareem Abdul-Jabbar No. 33 jersey.... Guard Gary Payton left Saturday’s workout early to attend a family function, Jackson said.

TODAY

vs. New Jersey, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7

Site -- Staples Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 40-21, Nets 38-23.

Record vs. Nets -- 1-0.

Update -- Since the All-Star break, the Lakers are 9-2, including a lopsided 100-83 victory at New Jersey a week ago, when O’Neal scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. The Nets might be without point guard Jason Kidd, who has sat out the last three games because of a left knee injury. Fans are advised to allow extra time getting to the game because of the extra traffic and street closures related to the marathon.