[0] THIS BENCH WARRANTS ATTENTION LAKERS, WITHOUT KOBE AND HARPER, GET BY LAKERS 113, ATLANTA 106.Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer All things are not fair, but the Lakers tried. They met what goes for the Atlanta Hawks these days minus their starting guards, and often times, much interest. That still left Lorenzen Wright Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright (born November 4 1975) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. After being selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1996 NBA Draft out of the University of Memphis, the 6'11" (2. trying to play center and giving up about 100 pounds to Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). , and a Hawks team that was 18-36 and had just had a four-player turnover, in for a trying night. The Lakers ultimately mustered enough effort to dispatch the Hawks 113-106 Friday night before a sellout Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. crowd of 18,997 for their third consecutive victory. Their first game back after a rough six-game road trip following the All- Star break, the Lakers weren't about to get all empathetic em·pa·thet·ic adj. Empathic. em  pa·thet i·cal·ly adv. over the Hawks' plight.
So they tried to dust off their recent ``share the wealth'' routine, but this time only five Lakers finished in double-figures. O'Neal, who's never had a triple-double, again led the way with 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Brian Shaw Brian K. Shaw (born March 22, 1966 in Oakland, California) is a former professional basketball player. The 6' 6" Shaw could play both guard spots, but was used primarily at point guard over the course of his 14 seasons in the league. , starting for Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. and at times playing like him, hit 10-of-15 field goals for a season-high 22 points. Then there was Mike Penberthy Mike Penberthy (born November 29, 1974 in Los Gatos, California), is an American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard from Master's College, Penberthy was not drafted by an NBA team but did manage to play for the Los Angeles Lakers for two years (2000-01 to 2001-02). adding 16 points off the bench, and Isaiah Rider Isaiah Rider, Jr., sometimes known as J.R. Rider (born March 12, 1971 in Oakland, California) is an American former NBA basketball player, who played from 1993–2001. The 6'5" (1. , playing his first game against the Hawks since the released him last year, had 14 points and four assists. Devean George Devean Jamar George (born August 29 1977 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. He typically plays small forward but because of his athleticism and defensive activity, can defend many shooting guards as well. didn't make it pretty, hitting just 4-of-12 field goals, but finished with 10 points. Against a struggling, dismantled Atlanta team, it was enough. Thursday, the Hawks sent starting center Dikembe Mutombo n. A fatigue fracture of bone caused by repeated application of a heavy load, such as the constant pounding on a surface by runners, gymnasts, and dancers. in his right wrist), forward Toni Kukoc (who has back spasms and did not arrive in time for Friday's game), center Nazr Mohammed and guard Pepe Sanchez. Then they released Ira Bowman and Larry Robinson. The Hall of Fame was not paying close attention. What was left of the Hawks gave the Lakers more trouble than they should have. Bryant sat out his second game with a sprained ankle and Ron Harper remains on the injured list, but the Lakers hit 58 percent of their shots in the first half and lead 67-50 at the break. But the Lakers interest, or energy, was lacking. ``Sometimes the first game back home after a long road trip feels like the last game of the trip,'' said Lakers forward Horace Grant. Sure enough, the Lakers wandered and Atlanta made a run, closing to within seven (88-81) before settling for an 84-74 lead at the end of the third quarter. Boos greeted them as they walked back to the bench. Little-used forward Chris Crawford, averaging 5.8 points per game, was running around, driving the Lakers crazy. He had a season-high 23 points by the end of the third quarter. The Hawks stayed close despite playing the 6-foot-11, 240-pound Wright on the 7-foot-1, 330-pound O'Neal. Wright had his fill of this center stuff his rookie year with the Clippers, but with Mutombo traded and Ratliff not expected back soon, Wright got an introduction back to the pivot against the game's most dominating center. The good news, he lived to tell about it. Phil Jackson sent the bulk of his regulars in to start the final quarter, and the Lakers flexed enough muscle to pull back to a double-digit lead, though it never looked all that comfortable. Crawford finished with a 27 points for the Hawks, and Jason Terry added 25, but there wasn't going to be enough for Atlanta. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Tyronne Lue drives against Atlanta's Nazr Mohammed in the third quarter. (2) Shaquille O'Neal had a fairly easy time going up against the Hawks' Lorenzen Wright, scoring 30 points. O'Neal is fouled here by Brevin Knight. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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