Shaq’s Step, Hope Spring Eternal

Shaquille O’Neal continues to press toward a Nov. 12 return from the surgery that relieved him of the pain of arthritis and bone spurs, saying Sunday he’s beginning to believe that his recovery could be complete by then.

“I hope,” he said. “I hope.”

Going on eight weeks since the surgery, O’Neal said the part of his toe that had the arthritic condition feels healed, and he’s only waiting on the underside of the toe, where Dr. Robert Mohr shaved bone spurs. O’Neal is off the medication, and when he is wearing his new shoes and orthotics, he said, he feels no pain.

He said if he’d had to play Sunday -- “The playoffs?” he asked -- he could have, and that he’s feeling no ill effects from his gradual work increase.

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Mark Madsen, on the injured list because of a strained left hamstring, suffered a separate injury in the hamstring. He is expected to be set back for at least a week. Madsen is eligible to come off the injured list Thursday.

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Doug Christie, in the Sacramento Bee, on whether his wife really massaged O’Neal’s big toe: “There are always going to be other people, and they are always going to have something to say. I can’t concern myself with that, because if I do, I’m not going to be focused on what I’m trying to do.”

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The Orlando Magic plays host to Sacramento on Tuesday night and, because of league disciplinarian Stu Jackson’s light touch, will face the full complement of Kings.

Magic Coach Doc Rivers: “Going by the rules, the whole Kings’ team should have been suspended. That’s crazy. ... We should play tag team -- ‘Drag his [rear] over to your bench and you can kick his [rear].’ That’s basically what the rule says.”

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Portland center Arvydas Sabonis, who played reasonably well against the Shaq-less Lakers in 10 minutes Wednesday night in Portland, has a strained hamstring and did not make the trip.... The Lakers leave this afternoon for a trip to Cleveland (Tuesday), Boston (Thursday) and Washington (Friday).