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Jackson finds humor in O’Neal’s response

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Times Staff Writer

The two-day battle of words came to a rest 250 miles from where it began.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson decided not to escalate a bewildering, almost out-of-left-field exchange between the future Hall of Fame coach and his former center.

He smiled and offered only a handful of words after Lakers’ practice Tuesday when asked his thoughts on Shaquille O’Neal referring to him as Benedict Arnold.

“My guy,” he said. “It was a funny one.”

Jackson irritated O’Neal on Sunday by musing that his work ethic was substandard when he was with the Lakers, saying, “We had a hard time getting him to work.”

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O’Neal was bothered enough to give a one-sentence interview after the Miami Heat beat the Lakers, 101-85, on Christmas Day.

“How can Benedict Arnold be reliable in what he says?” O’Neal said as he walked out of the locker room, declining to elaborate.

O’Neal was presumably upset that Jackson went back to coach the Lakers before last season, and Kobe Bryant in particular.

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Bryant sat this one out, content to watch the spat between his current coach and former teammate from the sidelines.

“I ain’t got nothing to do with that,” said Bryant, after being told Arnold was an American war hero who became a traitor. “Ask Phil. I ain’t got nothing to do with that.”

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Luke Walton’s scoring average and shot attempts have plummeted since Lamar Odom went down with a sprained knee ligament, a definite non-coincidence. Odom would draw defenses in with his penetration, freeing Walton up for open looks. Without Odom, Walton has struggled.

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He has also struggled with a sprained wrist on his left, non-shooting hand. “When I get in the paint, I’m a little protective of it,” said Walton, who thought he initially hurt the wrist against Dallas two weeks ago but wasn’t sure how.

Walton had 10 points Monday against Miami, breaking a string of three consecutive games without scoring in double figures. He took only 22 shots in the Lakers’ last four games, bringing his average down to 8.8 a game.

“He hurt himself and it’s affected his game,” Jackson said. “I just think he hasn’t shot the ball with the same accuracy that he had before. It’s short.”

TONIGHT

at Orlando, 4 PST (tape delay, 5:30, Channel 9)

Site -- TD Waterhouse Centre.

Radio -- 570; 1330.

Records -- Lakers 18-10; Magic 17-12.

Record vs. Magic (2005-06) -- 2-0.

Update -- Behind reliable double-double big man Dwight Howard, Orlando has jumped to the top of the Southeast Division. Howard, who turned 21 this month, is averaging 15.8 points and 12.5 rebounds a game.

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