O'Neal hopes to return Nov. 22

The Associated Press

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- With his sore toe getting better, Shaquille O'Neal hopes to play his first game Nov. 22 at home against Chicago.

O'Neal said Thursday that his foot has been less sore during practices, but that the pain returns following workouts. He had the arthritic big toe on his right foot operated on Sept. 11.

"I've completed whole practices. But practices and games are two different things," he said after Thursday's practice.

Without O'Neal, the three-time defending champion Lakers are 2-6, with four straight losses.

The Lakers play Golden State on Friday and Houston on Sunday -- both at home -- before playing road games against Dallas and San Antonio next week.

"Hopefully, I get to come back after the Texas trip," O'Neal said.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said it was "plausible" O'Neal could return in a week, but he was noncommittal.

"We're just looking at him as a day-to-day," Jackson said. "I think that's kind of consistent with what our philosophy has been. I felt like today he had probably the best practice that he's had."

O'Neal said he hasn't enjoyed watching his teammates struggle, but he doesn't feel pressure to rush back.

"I'd rather us be at full strength, because everybody is coming at us at full strength," he said. "We'll just have to see what happens next week. It looks pretty good."