SAN ANTONIO — Shaquille O'Neal is hurt and angry. Now there's something to worry the San Antonio Spurs.
The Lakers' center has long been troubled by an arthritic big toe, and he cut the index finger of his shooting hand during Sunday's playoff victory. What's more, he says he has a sprained left ankle from Game 2.
That covers the hurt. The anger is with Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson, whose team faces the Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on Friday night.
Jackson criticized O'Neal's aggressiveness in Tuesday's 88-85 loss that evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1. The center finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, both well below his season norms.
When asked about the injured ankle Thursday, O'Neal said: "Ask Phil, he knows everything."
The Spurs are wary of O'Neal's injury report and wonder if there's some gamesmanship at work.
"He still throws it through the rim hard, so I don't think his hand is bothering him at all," said Malik Rose, who has been sharing the Shaq patrol with several other defenders while Spurs center David Robinson recovers from a sore back.
Robinson, who has played only a few minutes of the postseason, could be in uniform for Game 3.
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said the 7-foot-1 Robinson went through a full practice Thursday, and a decision will be made Friday.
"He banged and he hit, and it's just a matter of whether the nerve in the back sustains as the day goes on," Popovich said.
Given the mood they expect from the Lakers, the Spurs would very much like to be at full strength.
"They're going to come with their full focus," Popovich said. "They're going to play great."
And no one does San Antonio expect more from than O'Neal.
"I think Shaq is going to get involved more," Spurs guard Tony Parker said. "I think he's going to have the ball more, so we have to be ready."
Robinson's presence would be the biggest plus for the Spurs, who built a 21-point lead Tuesday and then barely held on at the Staples Center.
The home crowd also figures in — San Antonio is 15-1 in the Alamodome since late February.
The Spurs also expect to get a lift from Tim Duncan being honored Friday night for his selection as the NBA's Most Valuable Player.
O'Neal finished third in the balloting, behind Duncan and New Jersey guard Jason Kidd, and earlier said he should have won. Teammate Samaki Walker said Thursday that O'Neal might try to make his case on the court Friday.
"I'm sure one person won't be happy — No. 34 (Shaq)," said Walker, a former Spur. " I expect a big game from him."
Both teams have played well in bursts, but neither has shown the form that led them to identical 58-24 records during the regular season.