Team Doctors Give Turiaf the OK to Play

Forward Ronny Turiaf, who underwent open-heart surgery five months ago, passed his physical and was cleared to play by team doctors Monday.

Turiaf, a second-round draft pick from Gonzaga, is still at least two weeks away from joining the team, a Laker spokesman said, and would have to improve his conditioning and learn the triangle offense before officially coming on board.

Money wouldn’t be a problem -- Turiaf would gladly accept the minimum NBA salary of $399,000, which would then be prorated for time played -- but Coach Phil Jackson has the ultimate say on when and if Turiaf returns.

“Conditioning and skill level are to be determined now,” Laker spokesman John Black said Monday. “Then it becomes a decision for Phil to make whether or not he’d be a benefit to the team on the roster.”

The Lakers would have to reduce their roster via trade or by waiving a player, either Devin Green or Von Wafer. Turiaf, who turns 23 next month, can’t practice with the team unless he is under contract.

Currently a graduate assistant coach with Gonzaga, Turiaf has scrimmaged with the nationally ranked Bulldogs several times in the last two months.

He underwent surgery to repair an enlarged aortic root in July, a month after being selected No. 37 in the draft.

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The Lakers took turns taking blame for Tracy McGrady’s relatively uncontested layup in Sunday’s 76-74 loss to Houston.

With the score tied, McGrady dribbled above the key for almost 15 seconds before cruising down the left side past Devean George and guiding the ball through the arms of Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown with 0.3 seconds left to play.

“I kind of relaxed a bit and he saw me relax and got a step on me and then had a clear path to the basket,” George said. “I thought he was going to try to use up a little bit more of the clock so I relaxed and as soon as I relaxed I think he read me getting out of my stance and took off. Next time I will stay in my stance the whole time. My fault.”

Said Odom: “I will take the blame for that one. I was right there.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Dallas, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 13-11, Mavericks 18-6.

Record vs. Mavericks -- 1-0.

Update -- The Mavericks have won three consecutive games since the Lakers beat them last week, 109-106, when Kobe Bryant hit an off-balance, 29-foot three-pointer with 34.9 seconds left to put the Lakers ahead for good. Maverick forward Dirk Nowitzki is tied for sixth in the league at 26.1 points a game.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849 or ticketmaster.com.