The Lakers went 2-3 without the 7-2, 350-pound O'Neal, who also missed the All-Star Game due to an arthritic right big toe. He is in the starting lineup for Tuesday night's game against Boston.

After losses to Atlanta on Friday and Portland on Sunday, the Lakers fell three games behind first-place Sacramento in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles has not lost three in a row since Phil Jackson took over as coach prior to the 1999-00 season.

The Lakers used Samaki Walker and Stanislav Medvedenko at center over the last five games in O'Neal's absence. The two combined for just 16 points and 12 rebounds in the losses to Atlanta and Portland.

To make room for O'Neal, the Lakers placed Walker on the injured list with a hyperextended right elbow. Walker is averaging 7.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in 50 games.

A nine-time All-Star, O'Neal is averaging 26.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in 37 games this season, missing 10 due to the toe injury and three due to a suspension for throwing a punch at Brad Miller in a January 12 game against Chicago.