LAKERS' 14TH STRAIGHT IS SOMETHING SPECIAL RICE'S HEROICS LEAD TEAM BACK FROM 19-POINT DEFICIT IN THE SECOND HALF LAKERS RALLY TO BEAT SONICS.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

SEATTLE - From the unpredictable to the impossible, The Streak that refused to die made it to its 14th anniversary Saturday night, and the Seattle SuperSonics graciously played host for the party.

Last one out, turn out the lights on the Western Conference.

The Lakers ran their winning streak to 14 games with a 110-100 victory over the Sonics at KeyArena, and as if that weren't impressive enough, they achieved it with their greatest comeback of the season.

They trailed by as many as 19 points early in the second half before outscoring the Sonics 34-12 in the third, then pulled away to record their first season sweep at Seattle since the 1996-97 season.

``I don't know what to say about that game,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``It's just two halves in a ballgame. . . . We came in the locker room (at halftime) and said, thank god there are two halves to a game and we can make some adjustments and come back out and play some defense.''

That defense was stifling, as the Sonics scored just 12 points in the third and 34 in the second half.

Just as impressive was the offense, as Glen Rice, playing hero for the second straight night, scored 15 points in the decisive third quarter and finished with 24 points, two steals and three rebounds.

Kobe Bryant made his first five 3-point tries of the night and led the Lakers with 31 points, six rebounds and three steals. Shaquille O'Neal battled through foul trouble but finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and a team-high six assists.

It all made for an amazing comeback-to-back weekend. The Lakers overcame a 13-point deficit Friday to beat the Charlotte Horrnets in what was then their biggest come-from-behind win of the season.

So the Lakers aren't just piling up wins anymore. They're picking up style points for winning every way imaginable, adopting the second-half surge as their latest fashion statement.

``It says a lot,'' Rice said. ``It shows that this team has the will, has the character, to be able to come out of a difficult situation and come out on top and win a ballgame. It also shows we have a panic buton, but yet we still we go out there and we keep it under control.''

To be certain, luck has played at least a supporting role in the Lakers' winning streak. Particularly last week, when they consistently fell behind opponents ranging from the lowly Clippers (twice) to the powerful Charlotte Hornets, only to pull out victories each time.

``Yeah, there's some truth to that, but I'm a believer that you make your own luck,'' Jackson said. ``And perseverance, second effort and a lot of things make your own luck. But yeah, there's always luck involved.''

That luck seemed due to run out soon. It nearly did against the Hornets on Friday, when the Lakers didn't even take their first lead until the final three minutes of the game. After such a taxing comeback performance, and after traveling overnight to the Pacific Northwest to play the second night of a back-to-back - against a rested, talented Sonics team - a loss almost seemed predictable.

``Well, accumulation of four games in five nights, it just sets up a little more energy deprivation,'' Jackson said, but noted ``That's what the NBA's about.''

If ever a team looked energy deprived, it was the Lakers in the first half Saturday, as they watched the Sonics score 66 points - the most an opponent has scored in a half this season - and fell to a 66-49 deficit.

Ruben Patterson scored a team-high 19 points to go with nine rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in the half. Bryant matched him, leading the Lakers with 21 points. O'Neal settled for 15 points and just four rebounds as the Sonics enjoyed a 27-20 advantage on the boards.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo: (1 -- color) Jim Cleamons

(2) The Lakers' Kobe Bryant reacts after making a 3-point shot in the first quarter. He made his first five 3-point attempts.

Associated Press

Box: (1) INSIDE --Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons begins weekly column in the Daily News.

(2) GAME RECAP