Suns, Marion to meet Shaq-less Lakers at T&M

Adam Candee

Friday, Oct. 18, 2002 | 10:06 a.m.

Mercifully, there will be no showing of "Kazaam," but a repeat showing of "The Matrix" will be in order when the three-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers face the Phoenix Suns in an NBA preseason contest Saturday night at the Thomas and Mack Center.

A good number of seats are still available for the game between teams with decent fan bases in the area. As of Thursday, about 12,000 tickets had been sold, with the downstairs ring of the arena sold out.

"Walk-up sales are usually huge for this event," said Windy Lawson-Whitney, events promotions manager at the Thomas and Mack.

A good number of Californians are expected to make it up for the game as part of weekend trips. Remaining upstairs tickets range in price from $12 to $27.

Former UNLV star Shawn Marion, a.k.a. The Matrix, will headline a new-look Phoenix squad as it takes on the depleted champs. Marion, who spent his junior year with the Rebels before jumping to the NBA, always enjoys coming back to Las Vegas to take the court where he made his name.

The Lakers are going through a difficult preseason, as Shaquille O'Neal is struggling to return from off-season toe surgery and may not be ready in time for the start of the regular season. O'Neal aggravated the injured toe while working out this week.

"Obviously, we don't expect to see him on the court in the exhibition season after that little spike," Lakers coach Phil Jackson told the Associated Press. "But we still think it's not that far away before Shaq will be playing."

After trading away Jason Kidd in exchange for Stephon Marbury last off-season, Phoenix suffered through a dismal year and found itself in the draft lottery. Things got no better this off-season with Marbury forced to serve jail time for a DUI arrest in Phoenix. With the ninth overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Suns selected 6-foot-11 high schooler Amare Stoudemire.

The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start.