O”Neal”s status uncertain

MIAMI – Saying his bruised right thigh still hampers his mobility, Miami center Shaquille O’Neal returned to practice Saturday – yet was coyly noncommittal about whether he’ll be playing when the Heat open their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the New Jersey Nets.

O’Neal was injured a week ago and hasn’t been on the court since. Coach Stan Van Gundy said he expects O’Neal, who missed the last two regular-season games, to play in today’s Game 1 against the Nets

The 12-time All-Star sounded less certain, saying. “You’ve got to start off in the right way. I’ve never missed a playoff game, I don’t think. This is the first time I’m going in iffy-iffy.”

O’Neal still is undergoing multiple treatments daily to alleviate pain and swelling in the leg. If he cannot play, former Nets center Alonzo Mourning – who asked out of New Jersey since he did not consider the team to be a championship contender – is Miami’s probable starter.

“Feeling pretty good. Went hard today,” said O’Neal, who averaged 22.9 points and 10.4 rebounds in his first season with the Heat. “The true test is going to be how I feel when I wake up in the morning.”