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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After completing a December to remember, the
Los Angeles Lakers seemed pretty unimpressed.
It all starts at the top.
|  | | Shaquille O'Neal outmuscled the Suns for 27 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots. |
"Well, I think we finished the year off the way we wanted to,"
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said following a 103-87 victory over the
Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. "I was not totally pleased with
this game, I thought we got mired into a running game and a scoring
game, trying to outscore an opponent that is a really good offensive team in the first half.
"In the second half, our defense stepped up and they did not shoot the ball as well."
Shaquille O'Neal had 27 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots as the Lakers won for the 10th straight time and
made it 17 wins in 18 games.
"We had a good month, we did what we're supposed to do,"
O'Neal said. "We're on a mission, we're playing pretty good."
The Lakers, whose 25-5 record is the NBA's best, finished
December with a 14-1 record, with their only loss since Nov. 21 a
103-91 setback at Sacramento on Dec. 8.
They hadn't won 14 games in a month since going 14-3 in March of
1986.
"We're happy with the way we're playing, but we're not
satisfied," said Kobe Bryant, who had 18 points, six rebounds and six assists. "The good thing is we have a 10-game winning streak,
we're still winning."
Glen Rice added 15 points and Ron Harper had 14 points, eight
rebounds and five assists.
"We have to grow as a basketball team," said Harper, who
played for three of Jackson's six championship teams in Chicago.
"Any time we allow teams to hang around, we've got a lot way to
go."
It was 84-77 before Rick Fox scored five straight points to give
the Lakers a 12-point lead with 5:05 remaining.
The Suns drew within seven points again before Rice scored seven
straight points to clinch the victory.
"We had trouble scoring in the second half," Suns coach Scott
Skiles said. "They pushed it back at us, and got some easy looks.
"You have to be impressed with a team that has the best record
in the NBA, but it's early. We'll see what happens."
O'Neal agreed, saying, "We're playing well right now, it's been
fun. I do expect a lot more. There are 50 games (actually 52) left.
As long as we're getting better every game, I'm happy. I think by
February or March, we should be able to tell if we have a shot at
it or not."
Clifford Robinson led the Suns, who lost for the fourth time in
five games, with 24 points and eight rebounds. Rex Chapman scored
18 points and Jason Kidd had 14 points, seven rebounds and 11
assists. Rodney Rogers also had 14 points for the Suns.
"I think they played a consistent game, but I just think we
played into their hands by forcing some shots and turning the ball
over a little bit," Robinson said. "They're playing well as a
team. It just helps them when you play into their hands and do
things that you don't want to do."
Fox's 3-point shot as time expired in the first half gave Los
Angeles a 57-52 lead, and the Lakers outscored the Suns 9-1 to
start the third quarter, making it 66-53.
The Lakers led 73-58 when the Suns went on a 9-0 run to draw
within six points, but that was as close as they would get.
Bryant's 18-foot jumper as the third quarter ended made it 79-69.
The Lakers, extended to the final buzzer in beating lowly Dallas
108-106 Monday night, outscored the Suns 18-5 over a five-minute
span to take an early 20-11 lead.
With Robinson leading the way, the Suns responded by going on a
19-8 run for a 30-28 lead early in the second quarter. It was
45-all before Los Angeles scored six straight points to go ahead
for good.
Game notes
The Lakers' best start after 30 games is 27-3 in the
1971-72 season, when they won a record 33 straight as well as the
NBA championship. ... The Lakers, whose current winning streak is
the league's longest this season, also had a 10-game winning streak
last season. They opened the 1997-98 season with 11 wins in a row.
...The Lakers have also won 11 straight home games -- their longest
such streak since they won 12 in a row at home during the 1996-97
season. ... The Suns dressed 11 players -- starting forward Tom
Gugliotta sat out his seventh game since suffering a seizure
following his team's 110-102 win at Portland on Dec. 17. ... The
Suns are 3-4 without Gugliotta, with their three most recent losses
before Wednesday night all one-point setbacks. ... The Suns, 5-4
since Skiles succeeded Danny Ainge as coach, are also without
starters Penny Hardaway and Shawn Marion -- both on the injured
list.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Report: Suns' Gugliotta took herbal supplement before seizure
RECAPS
Indiana 116
Atlanta 89
Charlotte 109
Milwaukee 105
Cleveland 96
Washington 94
Miami 109
Orlando 106
Detroit 91
Chicago 77
Utah 101
Vancouver 90
Sacramento 113
Seattle 104
Philadelphia 97
Golden State 94
LA Lakers 103
Phoenix 87
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