[0] WARRIORS GIVE THE LAKERS FITS SHAQLESS L.A. LOOKS CONFUSED AND HELPLESS GOLDEN STATE 101, LAKERS 90.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

OAKLAND - The Lakers' world without Shaquille O'Neal is indeed different, in oh so many ways, and on Wednesday night they measured his absence with fits of ugly play, fits of outright confusion and when the game was on the line, just plain fits.

Kobe Bryant got a technical foul for jawing at the referees. Devean George lost his cool and was ejected. Seconds later, coach Phil Jackson blew his top and for a moment appeared to be ejected as well, as the Lakers fell to a 10-point deficit with 4:50 left to play against the Golden State Warriors at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

In one quick conference among officials, the picture changed again. They forgot to let the Lakers to substitute for George, leaving them with only four players. So a Larry Hughes 3-pointer was taken off the scoreboard. Seven seconds went back on the clock.

And Jackson got to stay, his technicals expunged.

When the confusion subsided, the Lakers composed themselves and battled back behind Kobe Bryant's hot shooting. But it came apart again just as quickly and they fell to a 101-90 loss - their second defeat in three games.

Bryant, battling through a painful rib injury, rediscovered his shooting touch, lighting up the Warriors for 39 points on 17-for-28 shooting. He hit consecutive 3-pointers to pull the Lakers within 4 points, 87-83, with less than three minutes to play.

But without O'Neal guarding the paint, the Warriors proved too much to handle.

Antawn Jamison answered Bryant with two quick scores as the Warriors pulled away. He finished with 26 points, Danny Fortson added 15, and the Warriors got 20 points from supercharged rookie Jason Richardson to beat the Lakers for the first time in three tries this season.

The loss dropped the Lakers to 40-27 all-time in games O'Neal missed. The Lakers have won 6 of the last 10 without him.

With O'Neal on the injured list nursing bad feet, the road for now is no longer defined by how many victories the Lakers can amass by April, whose records they can challenge or even which of their stars will take home the MVP trophy.

At the moment, it's about short-term survival in a Shaqless world, and to an extent, about some growth down at the end of the bench. For three more games, at least.

Samaki Walker couldn't duplicate his strong efforts of Christmas Day, and finished with just 9 points and six rebounds. Slava Medvedenko, starting his second straight game, delivered 12 points and eight rebounds.

``These are the tough games,'' said Jackson, ``the games on the road against a team like this, a big team with power rebounders, a lot of offensive boards.''

The Warriors opened the second half with a 13-4 run to go up by 11 points, and the Lakers spent the rest of the night desperately trying to catch them.

Bryant's hot hand pulled the Lakers back time and again. Hitting a variety of mid-range jumpers and turnaround shots along the baseline, Bryant dropped in 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting in the third quarter.

Most of it came directly in front of the Warriors bench, and with each made shot, Bryant followed with a killer stare at the Warriors bench, sending assistant coaches and players into hysterics.

A Mitch Richmond 3-pointer pulled the Lakers within 4 points, 70-66, but defense failed the Lakers and they got no closer. Antawn Jamison and Danny Fortson combined for 19 points in the period, helping the Warriors take a 76-66 advantage into the fourth.

Trying to contain that pair took a toll on the Lakers' forwards. Devean George picked up his fifth foul with 3:39 left in the third. Slava Medvedenko picked up his fifth less than two minutes into the fourth.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Larry Hughes of Golden State, right, chases the ball Wednesday in Oakland.

(2) Lakers guard Derek Fisher goes to the floor to win the ball from the Warriors' Larry Hughes during Wednesday night's game in Oakland. Golden State surprised the Lakers 101-90.

Ben Margot/Associated Press

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GAME RECAP