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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
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SHOT CHART
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GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Sacramento Kings gave Shaquille O'Neal a
little more room to roam than most teams do.
They wound up paying an expensive price.
|  | | Chris Webber led the Kings with a career playoff-high 34 points, but they could have used four more. |
O'Neal was at his dominating best with 44 points, 21 rebounds
and seven blocked shots Sunday as the defending NBA champion Los
Angeles Lakers held off the Kings 108-105 to begin their
second-round playoff series.
Kobe Bryant added 29 points for the Lakers, meaning their
teammates combined to score only 35.
In the end, though, it didn't matter, although the Kings were in
contention all the way.
"They were staying with Foxy, they were staying with Fish,"
Bryant said, referring to Rick Fox and Derek Fisher. "That opened
up the entire middle for Shaq to operate."
And operate O'Neal did.
O'Neal, who had 13 of his team's 24 points and nine of its 16
rebounds in the fourth quarter, said his teammates were looking for
him.
"They were not doubling me, so I just tried to take the
high-percentage shots," he said. "Close to the basket, I'm going
to take those shots all night.
"Whatever they throw at me, I'll be ready. They're probably
going to double me a little more quickly."
O'Neal, who made 17-of-32 shots and 10-of-19 free throws, also
had five of his 11 offensive rebounds in the final period.
"Shaq saved the day time and again by getting all those
offensive rebounds," teammate Brian Shaw said. "They're going to
have to figure out a way to combat that."
Kings coach Rick Adelman said as much.
"The guy is unbelievable," Adelman said. "He's big, he's
strong, he's quick. He really has learned how to play to his
physical talents. I thought Vlade (Divac) and Scot (Pollard) tried,
but he's a handful.
"I'm more concerned about the amount of holding and grabbing Rick Fox did on Predrag (Stojakovic)."
Guarded mainly by Fox, Stojakovic made only 6-of-18 shots in
scoring 20 points.
Fox reacted to Adelman's remark by saying, "Is he Dunleavy's
brother or something?" referring to Portland coach Mike Dunleavy.
Divac criticized the officiating concerning O'Neal, saying:
"They're going to change the rules next season, but I guess they
changed them for this series. I have a lot of respect for Shaq,
he's a great guy and a great player, but they weren't calling three
seconds or swinging the elbows. It was ridiculous. Give me a
break."
Coming off a first-round sweep of Portland, the Lakers extended
their season-high winning streak to 12 games – eight to finish the
regular season, and four in the playoffs. They haven't lost since
April 1.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night at Staples
Center before the series moves to Sacramento for the third and
fourth games.
The Kings, who trailed the entire fourth quarter, scored six
straight points capped by a jumper by Chris Webber with 24.1
seconds left to cut the Lakers' lead to 103-101.
Derek Fisher made 1-of-2 free throws less than a second later,
and O'Neal blocked a driving layup by Jason Williams some five
seconds after that.
Bryant made four foul shots after that to clinch the victory.
Stojakovic's layup at the final buzzer completed the scoring.
Webber led Sacramento with a career playoff-high 34 points and
eight rebounds. Williams added 14 points but committed six of the
Kings' 16 turnovers, and Pollard had 14 rebounds in 21 minutes.
Two baskets by O'Neal and another by Robert Horry gave the
Lakers a 90-80 lead – largest of the game for either team – with
10:40 remaining.
But the Kings battled back, and Webber's three-point play with
5:57 to play made it 97-93.
O'Neal missed four free throws in the next 1½ minutes, but the
Kings couldn't capitalize, and Bryant fed Horace Grant for an open
baseline jumper with 3:48 left. O'Neal's follow dunk 40 seconds
later made it 101-93.
Bryant scored 17 points in the third period, including the last
four, helping the Lakers take an 84-78 lead into the fourth
quarter.
O'Neal added 12 points in the period, with a basket by Grant
accounting for the only other Los Angeles points.
"I thought we played a pretty good game for not having any
combat for a week," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Shaq was the
dominant player out there today, without a doubt, and Rick did a
nice job defensively on Stojakovic."
Game notes
The game was the opener of a postseason doubleheader at
Staples Center; the Los Angeles Kings faced the Colorado Avalanche
at night in the NHL playoffs. ... Backup Lakers center Greg Foster
wasn't available because of a sprained right foot. It's hoped he'll
be able to play in Game 2. ... While the Lakers have been
consistent winners over the years, the Kings have experienced
little success. The Lakers have reached the NBA Finals 19 times
since moving to Los Angeles in 1961, winning seven championships.
The Kings have never won a title, and are playing in the second
round for the first time in 20 years. ... The Lakers have a 57-16
regular-season against the Kings since they moved to Sacramento in
1985. ... Jackson said he was unaware San Antonio's Derek Anderson
separated his shoulder Saturday until asked about it before the
game. "That really hurts them," he said. The Spurs and Lakers are
seeded 1-2 in the Western Conference.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
LA Lakers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Milwaukee 104
Charlotte 92
LA Lakers 108
Sacramento 105
Toronto 96
Philadelphia 93
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Shaquille O'Neal rejects a jumper by Jason Williams.
avi: 474 k
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'Cable Modem
Kobe Bryant on how Shaquille O'Neal's defensive pressure punished the Kings.
avi: 1236 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Phil Jackson says the Lakers are playing with more balance.
avi: 1150 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
 Kings coach Rick Adelman will have to find another plan of attack against Shaquille O'Neal.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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