O’Neal Is a Little Sore the Day After

Shaquille O’Neal practiced on two sore calves Thursday morning, Kobe Bryant took treatment for his sore right shoulder and the Lakers continued to measure the effect of an additional six to eight weeks without Karl Malone, all while bracing for two difficult weeks before the All-Star break.

O’Neal spent another 20 minutes with Bryon Russell’s shooting coach, Bob Thate, at the end of practice, most of the time at the free-throw line. He said his right calf, strong enough to carry him through a game Wednesday night for the first time in four weeks, was “pretty good.�

The Lakers have chosen to live with their early decisions on Malone -- his early, aggressive rehabilitation appears to have set back his recovery -- and focus on getting O’Neal and Bryant playing well again. Bryant is expected to play tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, but motions hearings in Eagle, Colo., will force him to miss Monday’s game at Indiana and a practice Tuesday.

“I’m really concerned right now with Kobe and Shaq,� Phil Jackson said. “I have to put Karl aside and let time heal that. Our team really has to start functioning with them on the court. Kobe not being able to practice ... is a major problem for us right now, because you have to practice together to get yourself used to playing together on the floor. It’s difficult for us.�

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The Lakers received a letter of apology Thursday from the Utah Jazz for the mock telephone call during Saturday’s game in Salt Lake City that parodied Malone and made reference to Bryant’s legal issues.

The correspondence was addressed to Laker owner Jerry Buss and signed by Jazz President Dennis Haslam, a team source said.

Jazz General Manager Kevin O’Connor telephoned his apology earlier in the week.

Malone railed against his former organization Wednesday night, claiming the faux call, broadcast across the Delta Center between quarters, was “disrespectful� and showed “no class.�

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As expected, Bryant will represent the Lakers in the Western Conference’s starting lineup Feb. 15 at Staples Center.

Bryant was not available for comment Thursday.

Also as expected, O’Neal finished behind Yao Ming in the Western Conference All-Star voting because he lagged in the paper balloting and not because, as O’Neal said Thursday, “Where he’s from, there’s 2 trillion people.�

O’Neal finished about 31,000 votes behind Yao, who is from China, which actually has a population of about 1.3 billion.

While the Lakers returned about 4,000 paper ballots to the NBA, it is possible some ballots punched at Laker games were counted among the ballots turned in by the Clippers, who saw an increase in their ballots over last season.

“I’m just happy to be there,� O’Neal said.

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The Lakers are not expected to put in a claim on Scott Williams, waived Wednesday by the Phoenix Suns, by today’s deadline, according to a league source. Williams reportedly would prefer to play for the Dallas Mavericks.

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The Lakers are the NBA’s most valuable team, according to Forbes magazine, which put the franchise’s worth at $447 million. The New York Knicks were second at $401 million.

TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 27-15, Timberwolves 31-13.

Record vs. Timberwolves -- 0-1.

Update -- The Timberwolves had won five games in a row and 10 of 11 before losing Wednesday night at Golden State, a game that featured Kevin Garnett’s 20-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. Guard Troy Hudson (right ankle) is questionable. Center Michael Olowokandi (right knee) and forward Wally Szczerbiak (left foot) are out.