LAKERS NOTEBOOK: MALONE CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY JAZZ.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - The possibility still exists for Karl Malone to return to Salt Lake City, his home for 18 seasons with the Utah Jazz, sometime next month should the Lakers and Jazz meet in a first round Western Conference playoff series.

``It'd be weird,'' Malone said after practice Saturday. ``But maybe it's only fitting that that's how it turn out. So we'll wait and see.''

Otherwise, tonight's game against Utah at Staples Center will have to suffice for Malone against his former team. It will be Malone's first meeting with the Jazz this season, the previous three games taken from him by an NBA suspension and knee injury.

``It's hard, but it's just part of it,'' Malone said. ``I really look forward to it. But I don't want to be caught up in trying to beat those guys individually. I just want to do it as a team.''

The Lakers, having won seven consecutive games, are chasing Sacramento for the conference's top playoff seed. The surprising Jazz are fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot with Denver, raising the possibility the teams could meet again in April.

Malone said there would be ``a little bit'' of emotion playing against several friends on Utah. In his eighth game back from injury, Malone will be matched up against Tom Gugliotta, acquired by the Jazz last month from Phoenix.

``I think he's going to be very pumped up about it,'' Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said of Malone.

For never actually having faced the Jazz, Malone has made plenty of noise in regard to his former team. He missed the first Utah game in Los Angeles after being suspended by the league for elbowing Dallas' Steve Nash in the face Dec. 4.

Malone then was on the injured list for the Lakers' infamous game in Utah on Jan. 24, when the Jazz played a prank phone call over the Delta Center public address system with a Malone imitator saying, ``I guess it could be worse. I could be Ko--.''

The NBA fined Utah $15,000 for its shot at Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's sexual-assault woes and Malone took umbrage with the Jazz. ``I will never ever forgive them for this,'' Malone said. ``No class at all.''

But Malone said Saturday he and Jazz owner Larry Miller, with whom he has frequently feuded, have patched up their differences. Miller characterized their relationship as being on ``neutral ground'' this month to Utah reporters.

``We in business together'' said Malone, who is a partner in several car dealerships with Miller. ``We're fine. Toyota - I love what they do for me.'' The Lakers are 7-1 since Malone's return, and although the 40-year-old shot just 1 of 9 Friday against Minnesota, his passing, defense and rebounding have been crucial components to the Lakers' success. Malone is averaging 11.5 points per game this month and the Lakers staff is encouraging him to shoot more.

--Close call: The Lakers dodged a bullet Friday when Malone landed awkwardly on a sweeping drive past Kevin Garnett in the first quarter. Malone appeared to twist his left knee, came up grimacing and said Saturday he came close to suffering a potentially serious injury.

``I thought about it, but I didn't let it bother me too much,'' said Malone, who added that the knee was still sore Saturday. ``Injuries are a part of the game and you just deal with it.''

Malone tore a ligament in his right knee Dec. 21 and missed 39 games. He played 25 minutes against the Timberwolves.

--Board man: O'Neal is averaging 17 rebounds per game during the Lakers' winning streak and has asserted himself on defense. But Jackson said some of O'Neal's effort might be attributed to comments made by his teammates after some one-rebound halves earlier this season.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

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- Ross Siler