Calvin Booth's right ankle will be examined by doctors next week to determine whether the 6-foot-11 center is healthy enough to play again this season.
Last week, Booth had a stabilizing boot removed.

Booth has been attending practices but only to work out in a pool, lift weights, ride the stationary bike and shoot jumpers.

"I'm trying to watch my activities right now," Booth said. "I haven't really hit any road blocks since I've come back."

If the Sonics opt for surgery, it's likely to be a minor procedure to clean out the ankle, Booth said. However, an operation would force Booth to miss the rest of the season.

"I'm trying to keep an open mind," Booth said. "I hope everything works out and I'm able to come back and help the team out. If I'm feeling too much pain when I'm trying to come back, then it's a sign that I probably need to look at (surgery)."

Booth sprained the ankle in preseason but played through the pain once the regular season started. The decision appeared to exacerbate the injury as Booth developed tendinitis in the ankle.

Booth was Seattle's biggest free-agent acquisition last summer, signing a six-year deal worth about $34 million. The Sonics have been able to contend for the playoffs despite Booth missing 25 games. But Booth could bolster Seattle's shot-blocking and rebounding.

Booth was averaging 6.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 18 minutes per game.

McCoy is now a Hatfield

When the Lakers placed Shaquille O'Neal on the injured list with a toe injury, they activated former Sonic Jelani McCoy.

The 6-foot-10 center was placed in the starting lineup early last season by Coach Nate McMillan. But McCoy, who has enticing athleticism, eventually returned to the bench after playing sluggishly.

The Sonics cut McCoy from their summer-league team, and the Lakers picked him up.

"I feel that Jelani has some skills," McMillan said. "He's capable of being effective in this league. It's a situation where it just didn't happen here."

McCoy hasn't played much after not showing much improvement from last season.

"I don't look back," McCoy said before the game last night. "I just concentrate on the positives of having a new team and being with the Lakers.

"For whatever reason, me and Coach McMillan didn't see eye to eye. And the team felt it had to go in a different direction without me. Things like that happen. You can't dwell on it. It's a business."

Note

? Chick Hearn, veteran Lakers announcer who has been absent since heart surgery late last year, will return to his broadcasting duties on March 1 when the team plays the Indiana Pacers at home. Hearn, 85, underwent heart-valve replacement surgery Dec. 20, ending a streak of broadcasting 3,338 consecutive games.

Yesterday's game at a glance

Player of the game: Kobe Byrant struggled for much of the night. But he made clutch baskets to lead the Lakers. Bryant finished with 23 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Top reserve: Robert Horry took only three shots and made every one. Two of Horry's baskets ? one a three-pointer ? came down the stretch to help the Lakers come back for the victory. Horry finished with seven points and the Lakers needed every one.

Key to the game: The Lakers were without one of their superstars, Shaquille O'Neal. When the other one, Bryant, struggled through much of the game, players like Stanislav Medvedenko, Horry and Devean George stepped up to keep the Lakers in the game.