|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers
did what was necessary down the stretch, while the Portland Trail
Blazers made too many late mistakes.
|  | | Since returning from injury, Kobe Bryant has fit in to the Lakers' flow. |
It happened in the seventh and deciding game of the Western
Conference finals last spring, and it happened again Sunday in the
next-to-last game of this season.
Shaquille O'Neal had 33 points and 18 rebounds and Robert Horry
made a crucial 3-pointer with 1:05 remaining as the Lakers scored
the final six points to beat the Blazers 105-100.
With Sacramento losing Sunday night at Phoenix, 88-86, the Lakers moved
into first place in the Pacific Division, and the Blazers fell a
half-game behind the Suns into seventh.
"We took care of the ball. We were able to make some stops and
we did some things that were important down at the end," Lakers
coach Phil Jackson said.
"It was a typical game that these two teams have played over
the last however many years," Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy said.
Damon Stoudamire, who scored all 14 of his points in the second
half, made a 3-pointer with 2:51 remaining to tie the game at 99,
and Rasheed Wallace's foul shot with 1:59 left gave the Blazers a
one-point lead.
O'Neal then made a short jumper, and rebounded a miss by
Stoudamire before the big 3-pointer by Horry, who connected from
the right corner to give the Lakers a 104-100 lead.
Stoudamire missed another shot and Horry rebounded before Bryant
made a free throw with 19 seconds to play, completing the scoring.
"The game could have gone either way in the last two minutes,"
O'Neal said. "We got a couple stops, and Robert hit a big shot. We
played really good defense."
The Blazers looked particularly shaky in the final minute,
allowing the Lakers to run several seconds off the clock before
deciding to foul. After getting the ball back with 19 seconds left,
Portland couldn't even get a shot off.
"We played all right. We have to play better, especially down
the stretch," said Portland's Scottie Pippen, who was held to nine
points.
Kobe Bryant added 25 points and seven assists, and Derek Fisher
scored 21 points for the Lakers (55-26), who extended their winning
streak to a season-high seven games.
But Horry, who scored only five points, made the game's biggest
shot.
"We know Robert likes big shots in games, and we are
encouraging him to take the shots that are there for him because he
does a good job when it's critical," Jackson said.
"Rasheed had been backing off all game," Horry said. "I had
missed two, the law of averages were with me. Usually when I don't
hesitate, I have better results."
The Lakers finish the regular season at home Tuesday night
against Denver. Should they beat the Nuggets, and should Sacramento
lose one of its final three games, the Lakers would win the Pacific
Division title.
Wallace led the Blazers with 28 points, seven rebounds and five
assists, and Steve Smith added 24 points.
The Blazers (50-31), a possible first-round playoff opponent for
the Lakers, have lost six of their last nine games. They finish the
season at home Tuesday night against the San Antonio Spurs, who
have already clinched homecourt advantage throughout the Western
Conference playoffs.
The Lakers outscored the Blazers 11-3 late in the third quarter
to take an 84-75 lead -- the largest of the game for either team --
and it was 84-77 entering the final period.
Portland outscored the Lakers 11-4 to start the period, tying
the game at 88. Neither team led by more than three points after
that until Horry's big shot.
Angry words were exchanged when Sabonis committed a flagrant
foul on Bryant with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter, but order
was quickly restored. Sabonis didn't play after that.
During a timeout, Wallace threw a towel in Sabonis' face after
Sabonis accidentally hit him in the face with his left hand.
Sabonis had also elbowed Wallace below his left eye against Golden
State on April 6, also an accident.
Dunleavy said he didn't see what happened, and neither player
spoke with reporters after the game.
"We have the trophy as the most dysfunctional team this
season," Lakers forward Rick Fox said. "We'll give it to them."
Game notes
The Lakers and Blazers split their season series 2-2.
Portland has won 21 of the last 34 regular-season games between the
teams. ... Sabonis, hampered recently by back spasms, had seven
points and seven rebounds before picking up his second foul with
2:19 left in the first quarter. He finished with nine points and
eight rebounds in 19 minutes. ... O'Neal has scored 31 or more
points in 10 straight games, and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 16
in a row. ... Fox, who scored 14 points, made his first four
3-point shots before missing one in the final minute of the first
half. ... The teams combined for only two turnovers in the first
quarter, both by the Lakers. Portland finished with five turnovers
and Los Angeles eight.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
LA Lakers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 89
New York 82
Boston 95
New Jersey 88
Cleveland 106
Washington 98
Orlando 90
Miami 73
Indiana 93
Chicago 86
Minnesota 107
Utah 100
Phoenix 88
Sacramento 86
LA Lakers 105
Portland 100
Charlotte 99
Detroit 90
Dallas 107
Seattle 99
|
