Game Report
FIRST QUARTER
Highlight Reel: Derek Fisher must love having a player like Kobe Bryant as a teammate because he can make bad passes look good. Bryant snagged Fisher’s off-target alley-oop pass with his left hand and, while still floating in the air, threw down an impressive two-hand dunk.
It’s Not in the Box Score: How confident Laker perimeter players Rick Fox and Fisher looked with their three-point shot as they combined to make three of four attempts.
Winning Number: 11. Total assists dished out by the Lakers, with Bryant having twice as many as the entire Spur team with four.
Wrong Number: Zero. Total points scored by San Antonio’s David Robinson, who missed all six of his field-goal attempts.
Leading Scorers: Lakers: Shaquille O’Neal and Fisher 8 each. Spurs: Tim Duncan 8, Terry Porter 5.
Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 6, Horace Grant 3. Spurs: Duncan 3, Robinson 2.
*
SECOND QUARTER
Highlight Reel: The Lakers’ O’Neal took his game to a new level when he picked up a rebound, dribbled the length of the court, passed to the wing to Bryant, who gave the ball back to O’Neal for a fastbreak dunk to rock Staples Center.
It’s Not in the Box Score: With 9:35 remaining before halftime and the Lakers ahead by 17 points, Staples Center fans began to chant “Sweep, sweep, sweep.â€
Winning Numbers: 23. Total points scored in the half by O’Neal, who made 10 of 14 field goals and also grabbed nine rebounds.
Wrong Number: 23. The Spurs looked like a team that quit when they trailed the Lakers by this total at halftime.
Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 15, Bryant 8. Spurs: Duncan 6, Antonio Daniels 4.
Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Robert Horry 5, O’Neal 3. Spurs: Robinson 3.
*
THIRD QUARTER
Highlight Reel: Laker rookie Mark Madsen has not played much during the postseason, but after O’Neal went to the bench with four fouls Madsen stepped up and finished a fastbreak with a difficult layup and was fouled on the play.
It’s Not in the Box Score: Without both Bryant and O’Neal on the floor, the Laker reserves didn’t skip a beat and played San Antonio even over the final minutes of the quarter.
Winning Number: 12. Combined points scored by Fox and Fisher as they continued to destroy the Spurs with their long-range shooting, making all three of their three-point attempts.
Wrong Number: Zero. Points scored by Duncan, who struggled against Grant and Horry’s defense by missing all three of his shots.
Leading Scorers: Lakers: Fox 7, Fisher 5. Spurs: Robinson 7; Porter, Daniels and Avery Johnson 5 each.
Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Brian Shaw, Horry and Fox 2 each. Spurs: Robinson 4.
*
FOURTH QUARTER
Highlight Reel: Showing that he still had some fight left despite San Antonio’s poor play, Daniels made a steal at the top of the key, outran Fox to the ball and then finished the play with a one-hand power dunk over the Laker forward.
It’s Not in the Box Score: Staples Center fans cheered when Fisher was shown on the video screen after Coach Phil Jackson gave him the rest of the game off following his 28-point playoff career-high performance.
Winning Number: Six. The total of three-point baskets made by Fisher, including a three-for-three effort in the final quarter.
Wrong Number: Zero. Total points scored by Duncan, who did not attempt a field goal and was scoreless in the second half.
Leading Scorers: Lakers: Fisher 9, Bryant 6. Spurs: Johnson 7, Daniels 4.
Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Madsen 4; Grant and Tyronn Lue 3 each. Spurs: Samaki Walker 3, Robinson 2.
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