Shaquille O'Neal participated in a scaled-down practice, one that even Stan Van Gundy missed because he was sick, but it was enough to test the center's injured right ankle. O'Neal said his ankle responded well, but he's still a few more practices from returning to real action.

He certainly will not be playing tonight against the San Antonio Spurs, and probably not for the rest of this week, which includes home games Friday against the Nuggets and Sunday against the Wizards.

''Not a chance [tonight],'' O'Neal said. ``[Trainer] Ron [Culp] is not going to allow that. I'm probably a-little-practice-like-this ready, but I don't think I'm game ready. So a couple more practices and a couple more treatments and more getting ready and we'll take it from there.''

O'Neal said he felt some discomfort when he made wide moves toward his right, but his conditioning was the biggest problem.

''My timing was off, my wind wasn't game ready,'' he said. ``We're just going to take our time and not rush back.''