RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Hack-a-Shaq made life difficult for the Los
Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. However, as coach Phil Jackson put
it, they survived.
|  | | Kobe Bryant scored 38 points Sunday, making him the second-leading scorer in the NBA at 27.6 points a game. |
Kobe Bryant scored 23 of his 38 points in the second half, and
also had 10 rebounds and six assists as the Lakers continued their
domination over Dallas by beating the Mavericks 99-97.
Shaquille O'Neal added 25 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, but was
only 5-of-19 from the free throw line, and spent time on the bench
late in the game when it was obvious Dallas wanted to foul him
intentionally to send him to the line.
O'Neal had no problem with the strategy.
"I think it was a good move on Phil's part," he said. "We
have a lot of weapons on this team. Kobe played another fabulous
game, and the role players played well, too. We just have to fight
through all the strategies."
Mavericks coach Don Nelson has used similar strategy in the
past, angering O'Neal. He didn't seem upset this time, except maybe
at himself.
"I just have to try to go to the line and concentrate a little
more," he said. "It almost worked tonight. I just have to go to
the line and hit them."
While O'Neal might not have been upset, Nelson certainly was.
"I would like the league to evaluate this game film and give us
an explanation why every break was given to the Lakers in the
fourth quarter," he said. "I am not a complainer. ... We deserved
to win tonight. When you deserve to win, you should win. We played
our hearts out, showed a lot of intestinal fortitude in the fourth
quarter."
The Lakers, who have beaten Dallas 20 straight times at home
dating back nearly 10 years and won 35 of the last 38 games between
the teams, led by as many as 12 points in the final period before
the Mavericks rallied, getting as close as one point three times.
But in the end, with O'Neal on the bench, it was mainly a case
of too much Bryant, who is still bothered by an upper respiratory
infection.
"My energy felt good, I just had trouble breathing," he said.
"I'm just out there playing, playing within the flow, getting some
easy baskets in transition, having a good time. I feel like I can
play all day long."
Bryant scored six straight Los Angeles points in a span of 39
seconds to give the Lakers a 95-90 lead with 35 seconds remaining.
Two foul shots each by Robert Horry and Isaiah Rider after that
kept the Lakers safely ahead. Dirk Nowitzki's 3-pointer at the
final buzzer made it a two-point game.
"I haven't seen Shaq that inadequate from the line this
season," Jackson said. "But we survived it and we'll go on from
there."
Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Michael Finley scored 22 points, and Howard Eisley added 14 points
and 10 assists for Dallas.
Bryant, who scored a career-high 43 points two nights earlier,
followed in a missed shot as the third quarter was ending to give
the Lakers a 71-63 lead, and a 10-4 run put them ahead 81-69 with
7½ minutes remaining.
With the Lakers leading 83-75 and 5:20 to play, the Mavericks
intentionally fouled O'Neal, and he missed both free throws. He
then committed his fourth foul and was taken out, and the Mavericks
scored the next seven points -- five by Nowitzki -- to draw within
one point.
O'Neal returned with 1:50 remaining -- intentional fouls away
from the ball aren't allowed in the final two minutes -- and the
Lakers leading 89-88. However, he was fouled with 1:36 to play
after getting an offensive rebound, missed another two free throws,
and went to the bench shortly later.
The Mavericks then committed a turnover before Bryant made two
straight baskets to make it 93-88.
"A couple calls go our way towards the end and the game's a
different story," Dallas center Shawn Bradley said.
Game notes
The Mavericks played without guards Steve Nash (bruised
calf) and Hubert Davis (strained groin). Nash, who started Dallas'
previous 17 games, was replaced by rookie Courtney Alexander. ...
The Lakers have won nine straight home games since losing to Utah
in their home opener. ... Despite the loss, the Mavericks have won
four of their last six road games and six of 10 overall this
season. It took them 21 games to win No. 6 on the road last season.
... Since losing three of five games to Dallas in the 1986-87
season, the Lakers are 47-6 against the Mavericks. ... Nobody on
either team other than O'Neal attempted a free throw until Bryant
went to the foul line with 3:16 left before halftime. ... Dallas
didn't try its first free throw until Greg Buckner made two with
6.2 seconds left in the half. ... The Lakers outrebounded the
Mavericks 51-32.
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NBA Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
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RECAPS
Boston 96
LA Clippers 87
Milwaukee 92
Indiana 80
San Antonio 97
Vancouver 79
Detroit 93
Washington 87
Phoenix 84
Portland 79
Seattle 118
Golden State 102
LA Lakers 99
Dallas 97
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