CAPITAL PUNISHMENT BRYANT, RESERVES PUT KINGS ON BRINK LAKERS 103, SACRAMENTO 81.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO - The noise cascaded over the Lakers and they reacted like a bunch of sweaty Van Goghs. The Sacramento Kings pounded away at the Lakers, and they responded with the resiliency of reinforced rubber. And when nothing else worked, when the Kings had exhausted every last remedy, they turned to extreme measures.

They brought back Hack-a-Shaq.

There is no greater sign of desperation. But then, that's how close to the brink of elimination the Lakers pushed the Kings on Friday. And there was little the Kings could do but pick at Shaquille O'Neal's greatest weakness.

That the strategy failed miserably only added to the Lakers' resolve as they shook off the Kings, routing them 103-81 at Arco Arena to take a commanding 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven conference semifinal series.

The Lakers have won 14 consecutive games and can complete the series sweep with a victory here Sunday.

O'Neal missed five of six free throws when the intentional fouls began, then checked out of the game with 21 points and 18 rebounds. It wasn't as imposing as his back-to-back 40-point efforts in Games 1 and 2, but it was plenty.

Kobe Bryant compensated with a career playoff-high 36 points despite a shaky start. After missing 12 of his first 15 field-goal attempts, Bryant made his last seven in a row in the third and fourth quarters as the Lakers turned a close game into a blowout.

Derek Fisher added 12 points and Rick Fox 11 as the Lakers' role players at last made a showing in the series.

Chris Webber led the Kings with 28 points on 13-for-27 shooting, but Peja Stojakovic continued to struggle against Fox's defense and finished with 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting.

The shift of the series to Sacramento meant another foray into the NBA's loudest, most ferocious and possibly most obnoxious den of hyped-up fans. The cow bell chorus was out in force - there were four in the row behind the Laker bench alone, all in different colors - and about 17,000 white Kings towels in the stands.

And then there was the slightly more personal - a couple thousand Cindy Crawford masks aimed at O'Neal.

But it was the Kings' re-dedication to defense - and silly fouls - that flustered O'Neal most. Emboldened by their home court, Sacramento double-teamed more aggressively, denied the entry passes whenever possible and generally kept O'Neal from attacking the basket as he did in posting consecutive 40-point games at Staples Center.

O'Neal also picked up two early fouls, then a third, all at the offensive end, and played just 15 minutes in the first half. O'Neal took just two shots from the field in the half, settling for six points to go with eight rebounds.

The Lakers expected this. And O'Neal vowed ``my guys'' would step up and make shots when it happened. Never doubt Superman. As he predicted, the supporting cast, quiet for two games, turned up its volume as well.

Horace Grant scored eight points in the first half and Derek Fisher seven. Robert Horry and Brian Shaw combined for nine points and seven rebounds off the bench, and the Lakers took a 46-37 lead into halftime despite shooting just 39 percent.

Going home did not turn into the shooting boost the Kings hoped for. They shot 31.9 percent in the first half. Chris Webber missed nine of his first 12 field-goal attempts and Rick Fox continued to shadow and fluster Stojakovic, who settled for eight first-half points.

Bryant joined O'Neal in early foul trouble, also picking up three offensive fouls in the first half.

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Photo:

(color) Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, has his shot blocked by Sacramento's Chris Webber on Friday at Arco Arena.

Mark Terrill/Associated Press

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GAME RECAP