EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Shaquille O'Neal traveled to Minnesota with the Los Angeles Lakers, but coach Phil Jackson doesn't expect his star center to play on a two-game road trip because of a strained right calf.

``His progress has been so slow. He's still limping,'' Jackson said after practice Monday before the flight to Minnesota. ``It's kind of undefinable _ this injury. It's not something you can measure.''

Jackson said it's a matter of waiting until the pain subsides and O'Neal says he can play again.

O'Neal, averaging 20.0 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.44 blocked shots, missed two games in late November because of a similar injury. The Lakers didn't miss him, beating Memphis 121-89 and Washington 120-99.

It's been a different story this time. O'Neal left Friday night's game at Seattle in the second quarter because of the injury and didn't return. The Lakers lost to the SuperSonics 111-109, and without O'Neal, they lost to the Clippers 101-98 on Sunday night.

O'Neal didn't speak with reporters Sunday night or before the trip to Minnesota. Jackson said everyone on the team was traveling, including those on the injured list.

The Lakers (21-9), losers of four of five games and six of nine, play at Minnesota on Tuesday night and Denver the following night before returning home for games against Atlanta on Friday, Cleveland next Monday and Denver on Jan. 14.

``The long picture is for us to get our players back on the floor together as a group,'' Jackson said.

O'Neal didn't practice Monday, but did receive treatment, as did Karl Malone, who also spent time working out on an elliptical trainer _ similar to a stairmaster.

The 40-year-old Malone sprained a ligament in his right knee Dec. 21 against Phoenix and hasn't played since. He was placed on the injured list Sunday for the first time in his career, meaning he must sit out at least four more games.

He hopes to play Jan. 14 against the Nuggets, when he's eligible to return.

``I hope so _ that's kind of my goal _ to get two or three practices in and see what happens,'' said Malone, drenched with sweat from his workout.

Malone admitted this has been one of the most difficult times of his career. He didn't miss more than two games in any of his previous 18 seasons _ all with Utah _ and will miss a minimum of nine with this injury.

To replace Malone, the Lakers activated 20-year-old forward/center Jamal Sampson, who has played in only two games.

Rick Fox, who hasn't played since having surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left foot May 12, is close to returning.

``It felt great today,'' Fox said after Monday's practice. ``I know Phil knows my game. It really is their call to decide when I can help the team. Willing has always been there. Able has been the question.''

Kobe Bryant, who scored 44 points in the loss to the Clippers, said the team has to pick up its defense.

``I'm not ready to say it's effort _ it's execution,'' Bryant said. ``We just have to stop people, do some of the little things.

Regarding the recent losses, Bryant said: ``To me, it is what it is. You go through a season, you go through your ups and downs. We hit a stretch where we're not playing well. We're going to try to get out of it.''

Without O'Neal and Malone, it figures to be difficult on this trip against the Timberwolves (21-11) and the Nuggets (20-14 entering Monday night's game against San Antonio).