Malone Might Return Against Jazz

Karl Malone, who tore a ligament in his right knee Dec. 21 and has sat out 35 games since, was cleared Thursday to practice without restrictions, leaving open the possibility he could return Monday night against his former team, the Utah Jazz.

The Lakers declined to speculate on a return date. Team spokesman John Black would say only that Malone would not play tonight against the Seattle SuperSonics.

The team’s next full-squad practice is scheduled for Saturday. It is unlikely Malone would play Sunday against the New Jersey Nets, no matter the response of his knee, because of the 12:30 p.m. start and the demand of practice followed by a game in less than 24 hours.

Drafted by the Jazz in 1986, Malone played 18 seasons in Utah and sat out 10 games. As a Laker, he was suspended by the league for a game because he elbowed Steve Nash in the mouth, and two weeks later Phoenix Sun forward Scott Williams landed on Malone’s right knee.

During his absence, the Lakers played at Utah on Jan. 24. Though Malone was not with the team, the Jazz mascot performed a skit that chided Malone for his decision to leave the Jazz, ending it with a Malone impersonator saying by phone, “I guess it could be worse. I could be Ko--.” It was a reference to Kobe Bryant’s legal problems and cost the Jazz $15,000 in fines. Malone subsequently called members of the Jazz front office cowards, and said he was unhappy owner Larry Miller had participated in the gag.

On Wednesday, Malone held several photographs he said were taken at Delta Center. In them, posters near the security office that featured Malone and John Stockton had been doctored, with an elderly woman’s face superimposed over Malone’s.

He smiled and said again that he hoped to play against the Jazz on Monday.

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Malone’s apparent recovery comes at a good time for the Lakers, who announced that Horace Grant, their power forward and backup center, would sit out at least two games because of hip injuries. He will be re-evaluated next week.

Also, reserve center Jamal Sampson will undergo surgery Tuesday to remove scar tissue in his right foot. He will be out indefinitely.

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The Houston Rockets’ smaller lineup -- small forward Jim Jackson is 6 feet 6 -- allowed Laker Coach Phil Jackson to play Bryant in the frontcourt for some of the fourth quarter, with a backcourt of Gary Payton and Derek Fisher.

Payton played four minutes in the fourth quarter. Fisher, often a spectator in the closing minutes, played six minutes over the first three quarters, 12 in the last. In the final seconds, he chased down a rebound, was fouled and made two free throws, forcing the Rockets into a three-point attempt to tie.

“Everybody looks at the guys putting up the nice statistics,” Fisher said. “But those are the plays that win games and win championships.”

Jackson might consider more time for Bryant at small forward if Devean George and Rick Fox don’t come out of their shooting slumps.

George has shot 31% from the floor since Jan. 2, which has reduced his overall shooting percentage from 50.4 to 40.8 in two months. In that time, he lost his starting position to Fox and played only the last 9.8 seconds against the Rockets.

In 19 games since coming off the injured list, Fox is shooting 31.6% from the field, 17.6% from the arc. But he is getting playing time because he runs the offense efficiently and defends with attitude.

TONIGHT

vs. Seattle, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

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

Records -- Lakers 39-21, SuperSonics 27-34.

Record vs. SuperSonics -- 1-1.

Update -- The SuperSonics are down two point guards, Brent Barry and Antonio Daniels. Not surprisingly, they committed 20 turnovers in Wednesday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Barry has a broken finger and could begin practicing soon. Daniels has sore ribs, injured Tuesday in Dallas. Daniels’ status for tonight’s game is unknown. Rookie Luke Ridnour, the first-round draft pick out of Oregon, started against the Spurs and played 24 minutes. The SuperSonics were better with Ray Allen and Ronald Murray in the backcourt. Murray had 24 points and Allen 21, but they also combined for seven turnovers.