Karl Malone’s NBA career might be over. Malone, who re-aggravated a serious knee injury, did not play Tuesday. He had hobbled through the previous three games. Malone is expected to consider retirement this summer. If it’s over, a Hall of Fame career ended in an unfortunate way.

“He has not improved at all,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

Malone, who has endured the most trying year of his NBA career, was asked what he could do to make himself feel better. His answer offered a look at his struggle.

Malone, 40, had a bum right knee during what might be his last championship chase. That same knee caused him to miss almost half the regular season, an injury more serious than any he’s ever had. And before the season, he lost his mother, the most influential person in his life.

“If my mom were still alive, she may have had an idea,” Malone said in response to the question about feeling better. “It’s really not about age at this point. It’s about injury and one that’s come at the most inopportune time. What do you do about it?”

Wallace recalls early days as Celtic

Detroit center Ben Wallace recalled the days before his emergence and mentioned a brief summer stint in which the Boston Celtics gave him shocking news.

They wanted to move him from the post to the wing.

“They told me I was too small and had to play either shooting guard or small forward,” said Wallace, an undersized center listed at 6 feet 9 who might be a few inches shorter. “It was a surprise to me.”

Wallace said he refused to listen to the Celtics. “I never strayed from my game,” he said. “I was hoping they’d see me for what type of player I really am.”

Detroit’s Game 5 win makes history

There has been much chatter about history not being on the Lakers’ side, but how about what Detroit faced entering Game 5? Sure, no team in NBA Finals history has rallied from a 3-1 deficit.

But since the 2-3-2 Finals format was adopted in 1985, no home team had won the middle three games. Three road teams had done it – Detroit in 1990, Chicago in 1991 and the Lakers in 2001.