Horry Makes Slow Comeback

Robert Horry returned to practice Friday for the first time since suffering the strained left hamstring Sunday against the Vancouver Grizzlies but he wasn’t close to 100%.

“I wasn’t moving as fast as I wanted to,� he said. “I probably could have got real busy, but I was kind of scared. Not scared, but timid.�

Horry is expected to return Sunday against the Clippers at the Forum after sitting out two games, just in time for Elden Campbell to become the starting center as the replacement for Shaquille O’Neal. Horry, the power forward, said he felt pain in the leg during the workout at Southwest L.A. College, but that he could have played a game if necessary.

“I could go,� he said. “But not for 30 minutes.�

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The schedule is soft for a while, but it’s also loaded with reasons--besides the loss of O’Neal--for the Lakers not to relax:

* Sunday against the Clippers, the team that always plays them tough no matter the standings. They split four games last season.

* Tuesday at Miami, a return to the scene of one of the two most bitter losses last season, along with the overtime defeat at Chicago.

* Wednesday at Boston, where the Lakers suffered one of their worsts losses last season, a 110-94 defeat that dropped them to a disappointing 10-6 and prompted a team meeting. The added reminder is that the game was the day before Thanksgiving--just as it is this time.

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The Atlanta Hawks’ loss Thursday to the New York Knicks did not go unnoticed among the Lakers, who now are the only undefeated team in the league.

“I think that’s something to be proud of,� Coach Del Harris said. “These guys know how hard it is to win an NBA game, and then to be the last one standing.

“It’s a pride thing, doing better than anybody else. And right now, we’re doing better than anyone else. We don’t get anything for it, but you can’t keep the best record in the league unless you have it first.�