GAME 3 REPORT

FIRST QUARTER

LAKERS: 23

PORTLAND: 26

Highlight Reel: The Lakers had the ball with only 0.6 of a second remaining in the quarter as Portland double-teamed Shaquille O’Neal. That left open at the top of the key seldom-used Devean George, who made the Trail Blazers pay by knocking down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Portland made more of an effort to utilize veteran shooting guard Steve Smith in the team’s half-court offense, which played a key role in Kobe Bryant’s early foul trouble.

Winning Number: 5. Points scored off the bench by Laker guard Brian Shaw, who had a three-point basket and a fastbreak layup to spark L.A.

Wrong Number: 2. The field goals attempted by O’Neal and fouls called on Bryant in the quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Horace Grant and Shaw 5 each, Bryant 4. Trail Blazers: Smith 8, Damon Stoudamire 7.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Grant 6, O’Neal 3. Trail Blazers: Rasheed Wallace 4, Scottie Pippen and Smith 2.

*

SECOND QUARTER

LAKERS: 54

PORTLAND: 47

Highlight Reel: After a sluggish start, O’Neal got his offense going when he used a drop-step to set up a one-handed power dunk in the face of Arvydas Sabonis and then finished the quarter with an alley-oop slam.

It’s Not in the Box Score: After picking up his second foul early in the quarter, Wallace looked as if he wanted to throw the ball at an official, but he walked calmly to the Trail Blazer bench and sat down.

Winning Number: 10. The points scored by Stoudamire, who single-handedly kept Portland in the game with an array of baskets ranging from three-point shot to open-court layups.

Wrong Numbers: 4 and 0. The field goals attempted and made by Wallace, who finished the half one for 10 from the floor for only two points.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 12, Bryant 9. Trail Blazers: Stoudamire 10, Smith 6.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 5, Rick Fox and Bryant 3. Trail Blazers: Wallace and Sabonis 4 each, Smith and Stoudamire 2 each.

*

THIRD QUARTER

LAKERS: 79

PORTLAND: 72

Highlight Reel: Unselfish play is a thing of beauty, and Bryant and O’Neal teamed up for an impressive fastbreak when Bryant drove the middle of the lane before passing to O’Neal for an easy dunk.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Portland received a brief lift when Detlef Schrempf scored five quick points after he stepped in for Pippen, who had to sit down after picking up his fourth foul.

Winning Number: 6. For the Lakers to succeed they need point guard Derek Fisher to knock down open shots, and he did just that in scoring six points in the quarter.

Wrong Number: Zero. The combined points scored in the quarter by Dale Davis, Stacey Augmon, Bonzi Wells and Shawn Kemp, four Trail Blazers who did not play for various reasons ranging from suspensions to injury to drug rehabilitation.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Fisher 6, O’Neal and Bryant 5 each. Trail Blazers: Smith 9, Wallace and Schrempf 5 each.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal and Robert Horry 3 each. Trail Blazers: Wallace 4, Sabonis 2.

*

FOURTH QUARTER

LAKERS: 99

PORTLAND: 86

Highlight Reel: If Sabonis retires from basketball this summer, it is hoped he forgets the last basket scored against him--one last power dunk O’Neal jammed in his face before the Portland center went to the bench.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The suddenly mature Lakers didn’t celebrate too much after sweeping the Trail Blazers in front of the fans at Portland.

Winning Number: 15. The Lakers finished off Portland in style, grabbing this number of rebounds in the quarter, compared with nine for the Trail Blazers.

Wrong Number: 2. The combined points scored in the quarter by Wallace and Pippen, the two Trail Blazers the Lakers knew they needed to stop.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Fisher 7, O’Neal 6. Trail Blazers: Stoudamire 6, Sabonis 4.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 4; Fisher, Horry and Shaw 3. Trail Blazers: Sabonis 4; Wallace, Smith, Stoudamire, Pippen and Schrempf 1 each.