Blount Is Back Faster Than Expected

Corie Blount, originally expected to be out at least until Sunday, was instead back in uniform Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, a new timetable the Lakers were happy to get.

Actually, Coach Del Harris would have liked to have had the reserve forward the night before, when Robert Horry and Rick Fox were in foul trouble versus the Vancouver Grizzlies and Elden Campbell “didn’t seem to be into the game so much.”

But Blount was in Los Angeles, getting the word from one doctor that the sprained ankle that had bothered him for much of the season, during which time he still became a key contributor as a rebound specialist, would mean no games for several days.

Then on Wednesday, he was back, playing 16 minutes against the Bucks.

“I’m probably going to do like Shaq and come off the bench a couple games,” he deadpanned.

More likely, he’ll do like Shaquille O’Neal and help the frontcourt return to full strength for the first time in 7 1/2 weeks. Beyond that, it remains to be seen how much Blount will be able to do on the joint that may be sore for the rest of the season, until he can give it the necessary extended rest.

“It felt a little better after I went to the doctor,” Blount said of his Tuesday appointment with a foot and ankle specialist. “He said there’s going to be a little pain until I can get the orthotics. I said there’s no sense sitting out for that. It doesn’t hurt that much.

“It’s not like I’m going to be on the court 48 minutes. With my minutes, I should be OK.”

Said Harris: “He’s a tough kid. He likes to play, and he’s constantly played with injury here.”

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Eddie Jones continues to hold a starting job in the backcourt for the Western Conference all-stars in the NBA’s latest voting. Gary Payton is the only guard to receive more votes. O’Neal, though, has lost his top spot at center to David Robinson.