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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Shaquille O'Neal doesn't want Kobe Bryant to
rush his return to the Lakers' lineup, with the big center saying
he will hold the fort until Bryant's sore ankle is better.
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| O'Neal |
"What he needs to do is get his ankles right. As lone as one of
the super heroes is out there, we'll have a chance. Superman is
still here -- and he's hitting his free throws. So bring it to me,"
O'Neal said Friday night after he had 40 points, 17 rebounds, eight
assists, five blocks and three steals in Los Angeles' 104-91 win
over Washington.
"Superman," a.k.a. O'Neal, indeed was hitting his free throws,
going 10-of-13. A notoriously poor shooter from the line, the
Lakers' center has finally been putting some arc on the ball and
has made 31 of 41 fouls shots over his past three games.
Against the Wizards, he also came within two assists of his
first NBA triple-double in points, assists and rebounds. He has
previously reached double figures in points, rebounds and blocks in
a game.
Ending their two-game losing streak, the Lakers turned it on in
the third quarter against the Wizards, outscoring them 14-4 over a
four-minute stretch to build an 80-67 lead on Rick Fox's 3-pointer
with 4:28 left in the period.
Los Angeles was up 88-73 heading into the fourth quarter, and
Washington got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.
O'Neal scored 12 straight Lakers points during a 4:13 span to
increase their lead to 13 points with 2:35 to play.
Fox and Derek Fisher each added 13 points, and Brian Shaw had 12
for Los Angeles.
"We're supposed to beat this team," O'Neal said. "So I just
think we need to stopping giving games away and play with a little
more intensity. Tonight we moved the ball around the horn, got it inside then kicked it out to the guys. That's how the game should be played."
Richard Hamilton led the Wizards with 23 points, and Hubert
Davis had 17.
"We really didn't have an answer for Shaq tonight, obviously,"
Washington coach Leonard Hamilton said. "Not very many people
will. He's a dominating player and he really dominated the game.
"He had an awful lot of touches and when he's hitting his free
throws like that, he really keeps you at bay."
Bryant, dressed in street clothes, watched from the sidelines.
He is expected to miss at least two more games. The Lakers play at
Sacramento against the Pacific Division-leading Kings on Sunday, at
Phoenix on Monday, then are at home against Sacramento on
Wednesday.
Bryant hurt his left ankle, which has given him trouble at
various times this season, late in Wednesday's 107-100 loss at
Milwaukee.
The Lakers are 5-1 without Bryant in the lineup this year. In
seven games O'Neal has missed this season, they went 4-3.
After making just 10 of their 27 shots against the Wizards in
the first quarter, the Lakers were 13-of-18 in the second and led
60-55 at halftime.
The game was tied at 25 at the end of the first quarter, then
Los Angeles moved ahead 37-36 on a fastbreak basket by Isaiah Rider
3:14 into the second period and led the rest of the way.
Game notes
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said there was no rift between him and Bryant, regardless of reports indicating there was. "The
idea that there is a rift is totally unfounded," Jackson said.
"There has been a lot of innuendo. I believe communication between
us is good." ... Washington F Michael Smith was suspended by the
Wizards for two games -- costing him $48,000 out of his salary -- for
a profane tirade when he was taken out of Wednesday's game at
Golden State. ... The Lakers activated G Mike Penberthy, who had
been on the injured list on March 13, and placed G Tyronn Lue on the injured list with a sprained left ankle.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Lakers' Bryant sidelined three games with foot injury
Zenmaster throws the book at Kobe
RECAPS
Indiana 95
Vancouver 75
Toronto 112
Atlanta 86
New Jersey 95
New York 86
Minnesota 101
Denver 90
Chicago 93
Charlotte 90
Milwaukee 115
Orlando 103
Phoenix 84
Philadelphia 71
LA Lakers 104
Washington 91
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