DAY OF TRIUMPH FOR `WILY OLD FOX'.

Byline: KAREN CROUSE

PHILADELPHIA - Lakers forward Rick Fox escaped the giant boom-box that was the victorious locker room Friday night, only to bump into Jerry Buss in the crowded hallway.

Fox, who saved his best game of the NBA Finals for last, gave the Lakers owner a buss on the cheek. Buss, in return, gave Fox an executive order:

``Cut the hair.''

``I know. I know,'' Fox said, laughing. ``I will.''

The Lakers won 23 of their last 24 games to defend their NBA championship successfully, and at some point in that span Fox grew convinced his long locks held the key to the Lakers' success.

That's debatable, but this is not: Fox was fundamental to the Lakers' 108-96 win in Game 5, contributing 20 points, six assists and six rebounds. He was so dialed in on this night, he scored his final basket without even trying to.

With the game clock ticking off the final seconds, Fox got the basketball and hugged it tight. ``I didn't want to give the ball up,'' Fox said. ``I wanted to keep it.''

He changed his mind when referee Joey Crawford informed him that there was a one-second difference between the shot clock and the game clock and if he didn't do something with the ball fast, he was going to be charged with a turnover.

Shaquille O'Neal, the Finals MVP, was in his customary position in the low post, so Fox passed the ball to the Laker center from 28 feet out. The ball found the net, not O'Neal, which gave Philadelphia coach Larry Brown one more thing to grouse about after the game.

Brown thought Fox was trying to add insult to the Sixers' misery.

``Larry was upset at me. He thought it was rather bogus,'' Fox said. ``Honestly, Shaq was underneath so I figured I'd just throw it to him and it happened to go in.''

Hollywood couldn't have scripted a better ending for the Lakers' resident actor, who shed 20 pounds last summer in the hopes of landing a starting role. He won the job and disarmed Buss in the process.

``Wily old Fox,'' Buss said to Fox by way of greeting after the game. ``Defensive player of the playoffs. They should have a trophy for that. If they did, you would have won it.''

Buss was right. Fox's play on defense during the playoffs was a revelation. He was so stifling, it's a wonder O'Neal didn't give him the nickname Humidity.

Fox was so excited afterward, he felt a little like Ray Bourque. The defensive-minded forward and offensive-minded defenseman do share a common bond: Both had to leave Boston to fulfill their dreams of winning a championship.

Fox has two NBA titles, which more than makes up for the six years he languished on mediocre Celtics teams.

``The more and more that I lost, the further along I got in my basketball career, basketball broke my heart every year,'' Fox said. ``Last year and this year is when I fell in love with basketball again.''

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Rick Fox scored 20 points in Game 5 and earned a much-needed haircut after the Lakers clinched another NBA title.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer