KOBE AGAIN TURNS TRIPLE PLAY LAKERS DISPOSE OF BLAZERS IN OVERTIME LAKERS 98, PORTLAND 95.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

The numbers are flying past so quickly, it's getting nearly impossible to chart Kobe Bryant's rapid procession from basketball player to basketball maestro. And he might have just set some kind of odd record for converting a mantra into a mission.

Bryant keeps saying he's dedicated himself to making his teammates better, but the cliched response has been lapped by the fabulously choreographed results.

With one eye on his developing teammates and one on the Portland TrailBlazers, Bryant flicked off his second consecutive triple-double Sunday, leading the Lakers to a 98-95 overtime victory at Staples Center.

Bryant finished with 33 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, nearly the exact numbers he put up against the Clippers in Friday's victory. In so doing, he simultaneously made a mockery of the Blazers' defense and any lonely soul still trying to sell the idea that Bryant is selfish.

``If he plays within himself like that and doesn't try to carry it himself - which is ultimately still what he's doing - he's making it look so much easier,'' enthused Derek Fisher, who joked that Bryant was fashioning himself into a modern-day Oscar Robertson.

Bryant laughed off the comparison to the Big O, but he's at least looking Magical. No Laker had posted consecutive triple-doubles since Magic Johnson, on March 25 and 29, 1991.

``Like I said from the beginning of the season, my whole focus this season is to make my teammates better,'' Bryant said. ``Offense is going to come. Whether I score 30 points, whether I score 14 points, it really doesn't matter. But it's really about getting my teammates involved and making them better players all season.''

Devean George, who Bryant has mentored at every step, was the main beneficiary, scoring a career-high 25 points, on 9-of-18 shooting. He fell two rebounds shy of a double-double.

Brian Shaw added 14 points, including several clutch baskets down the stretch.

So after all of coach Phil Jackson's dire predictions - and the brief,odd brouhaha over Bryant's play - the Lakers are a respectable 2-2 sans Shaquille O'Neal. And the schedule is accommodating. They leave today for a three-game road trip against three struggling opponents: Cleveland, Boston and Washington.

The Lakers scored the first seven points in overtime and never trailed again. Portland pulled within a point on two Derek Anderson free throws with 1:09 left.

But Anderson airballed a 3-pointer with less than 24 seconds to play, and Portland was forced to foul. George made two free throws to give the Lakers the winning margin. Scottie Pippen misfired on a 27-footer in the closing seconds, and Bryant corralled the rebound to secure the victory.

The fourth quarter was a march toward the triple-double for Bryant. He picked up his ninth assist on a dish to George, driving through the paint for a layup that cut the deficit to two points. He finished off the triple-double seconds later, hitting Shaw for an open 22-footer that tied the score at 81 with 54.8 seconds to play in regulation.

George blocked a short jumper by Ruben Patterson, and the Lakers pulled ahead when Bryant tipped in his own miss. Portland tied the game at 83 on two Anderson free throws with 26.5 seconds left.

Bryant's free throws made it 85-83 with 4.5 seconds left, but Anderson re-tied the game with a 22-footer over George as the final buzzer sounded.

No one had a rougher night than Robert Horry. Back in April, Horry's last-second 3-pointer ended the Blazers' playoff run. On Sunday, he couldn't find the net, missing his first seven shots before finishing 2 for 11 from the field.

The rest of the big-man corps wasn't much better. Samaki Walker and Slava Medvedenko combined to make 4 of 16 shots.

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The Lakers' Kobe Bryant finished with 33 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists Sunday for his second consecutive game with a triple-double.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

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