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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Phil Jackson believes there's a difference
between the Los Angeles Lakers team that is on a 10-game winning
streak, and the one that put together a 16-game victory string
earlier this season.
|  | | The Lakers got another typical effort from Shaquille O'Neal: 28 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists. |
"I think we're a better team now than we were a couple of months ago," the Lakers coach said after Friday night's 109-96 romp over the Boston Celtics.
While Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant carried most of the load
for the Lakers during their 16-game winning streak Dec. 11-Jan. 12,
this streak looks like a team achievement.
"Our execution is a little bit better than it was during the
first streak," Bryant said.
O'Neal still is the main man, and he scored 28 points and had 15
rebounds against the Celtics. Bryant had 17 points, including
several spectacular dunks for the Lakers, who never trailed and
were in control virtually all the way.
Glen Rice started the Lakers rolling, however, by scoring 12 of his 20 points in the first quarter as Los Angeles opened a 30-17 lead. The Celtics got no closer than 10 afterward.
"I was happy with the performances by Shaquille and Glen
Rice," Jackson said. "And Kobe made some spectacular plays."
O'Neal scored the majority of his points on dunks over centers Vitaly Potapenko or Tony Battie -- both some three inches shorter
than the Lakers star. O'Neal was 13-of-20 from the floor.
O'Neal also had six assists as the Lakers, who made 41 baskets,
totaled 35 assists. Ron Harper was high in that category with seven, and nine Lakers had two assists or more.
"That was an unusual NBA game with 35 assists on our 41
baskets," Jackson said. "We had a lot of offensive opportunities.
We had kind of a layup line going out there."
The Lakers just returned from a six-game road trip, and O'Neal,
who missed most of his short jumpers against the Celtics, said:
"That was the ugliest 28 points I ever had. I think that jet lag
caught up with me. I'm going to go home and get to bed and get back
in the right time zone."
Antoine Walker led Boston with 25 points and Paul Pierce added
19.
"They were kind to us," Boston coach Rick Pitino said. "It could have been a lot worse. Certain substitution patterns helped keep it respectable.
"They showed a lot of class. They are a much better team than we are."
This is the fourth time in franchise history that the Lakers
have had two double-digit winning streaks during a season. It also
happened in 1987-88 (16 and 11); 1986-87 (11 and 12) and 1972-73
(13 and 11).
The Celtics, who are 6-23 on the road, narrowed the gap to 53-43 on Pierce's two free throws in the opening minute of the third quarter, but Los Angeles pulled away with a 13-4 run over the next five minutes.
The Lakers' biggest lead was 22, at 46-24 midway through the
second quarter. Los Angeles led 53-41 at the half and 84-66 heading
into the final period.
Game notes
Boston guard Dana Barros was placed on the injured list
Friday because of back spasms, and the Celtics activated guard Doug
Overton. ... The Lakers began their current winning streak a game
after their worst loss of the season, a 105-81 defeat in San
Antonio on Feb. 1. ... Los Angeles is 8-0 against Atlantic Division
teams. ... The Celtics did not play in Los Angeles last season
because of the shortened schedule. They beat the Lakers 108-102 on
Dec. 28, 1997, their last trip out, when the Lakers were still at
the Forum.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
LA Lakers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Minnesota 107
Toronto 85
Miami 87
Cleveland 82
Detroit 131
Golden State 99
Philadelphia 97
Milwaukee 83
New York 84
Phoenix 79
San Antonio 91
Chicago 78
Utah 96
Orlando 88
Atlanta 95
Seattle 87
LA Lakers 109
Boston 96
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