O’Neal could return after 33-game absence

Shaquille O’Neal has vowed not to resume playing for the Miami Heat until his surgically repaired left knee is “1,000%.”

He’s almost there.

O’Neal went through a full practice Wednesday, his first time playing full-court, five-on-five since the Nov. 19 procedure to repair torn cartilage. And he could make his comeback tonight, when the Heat plays host to the Indiana Pacers.

“We’ll see where I’m at in the morning, how I feel and make a decision,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal has missed 33 of Miami’s 37 games this season -- and, largely because they’ve been without O’Neal, the defending NBA champions have a sluggish 17-20 record. But the Heat haven’t had their full team together at any point this season, either.

With O’Neal on the cusp of returning, that’s about to change.

“He did full contact, full workout, up and down, did everything everybody did,” Heat interim Coach Ron Rothstein said. “This is the first time, full-team, five-on-five, up-and-down. It went good. He’s got a ways to go yet, but it was encouraging.”

Looking fit and considerably lighter -- Heat guard Jason Kapono said O’Neal’s oft-scrutinized weight is 235 pounds, which is probably about 90 pounds away from reality -- the 13-time All-Star center ran the floor well and was his customary physical self during practice, teammates said.

O’Neal’s teammates seemed excited about having him back on the court.

“He looked good,” backup center Earl Barron said. “He was banging around. His strength, his mobility, the way he was moving, it all looked real good.”

But with 45 regular-season games left and the Heat coming off a 4-2 trip, O’Neal doesn’t believe it makes sense to return before the knee is truly ready.

“I’m very anxious to be out there with the guys,” O’Neal said. “But I want to be at 1,000% so I can help them and not slow down the process.”

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Washington Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan was fined $15,000 by the NBA for failing to leave the court in a timely manner after getting ejected from a game.

Jordan was tossed in the third quarter of Saturday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He charged onto the court and yelled at officials to protest a non-call after Manu Ginobili stripped the ball from Washington’s Gilbert Arenas.

Jordan was restrained by his players, but was quickly given two technicals and kicked out of the game. He remained on the court awhile to argue his case.