MAGGETTE CLAIMS CITY'S ATTENTION CLIPPERS WIN THEIR FIRST FROM LAKERS CLIPPERS 95, LAKERS 90.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer Corey Maggette Corey Antoine Maggette (born November 12 1979, in Melrose Park, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player, positioned at small forward for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. awoke from a some type of basketball slumber. He practically had sleepwalked through recent games and had zero points in the Clippers' last game. Maggette, who has described himself as a ``warrior,'' awoke in the third quarter and stole Los Angeles' hoop spotlight from Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. . With 18 of his 28 points in the third quarter, Maggette led the ``host'' Clippers to a 95-90 victory over the Lakers before 20,309 Wednesday night at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . In was only the new-and-improved Clippers' second victory over the Lakers in 17 meetings. The production Maggette displayed seemingly came out of nowhere. He hadn't even scored 18 points since Dec. 27 and just seemed enthused to have Bryant guarding him. But it wasn't easy. After the Lakers pulled to 93-90 when Devean George Devean Jamar George (born August 29 1977 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. He typically plays small forward but because of his athleticism and defensive activity, can defend many shooting guards as well. made a 3-pointer with 1:22 left, the Clippers had to weather several storms to get the victory. With 25.3 seconds left, Elton Brand Elton Tyron Brand (born March 11, 1979 in Peekskill, New York) is an American All-Star professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers and the USA National Team. blocked a 3-point shot by Rick Fox. With 20 seconds left, Michael Olowokandi Michael Olowokandi (born April 3 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria), nicknamed The Kandi Man is a Nigerian professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He currently is a free agent. blocked a layup by Derek Fisher Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was with the Utah Jazz but asked to be released from his contract to care for his 10-month-old daughter, who has cancer. . Then Darius Miles Darius LaVar Miles (born October 9, 1981 in Belleville, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Miles attended East St. Louis High School, and, after failing to receive a qualifying SAT score to attend St. made one of two free throws to seal the victory. Brand had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Olowokandi added 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Clippers. Bryant scored 27 points, and O'Neal had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lakers. The Clippers took an 80-74 lead with 9:49 left when Brand converted a 3-point play. The Clippers then led the entire fourth quarter, but O'Neal pulled the Lakers to 88-86 when he made a hook over Olowokandi. Maggette had an outrageous third quarter with his 18 points, which included 10 consecutive points, on 6-of-7 shooting. It was enough to have the Clippers whittle back into the game after trailing by 14 at halftime. When Brand scored on a fast-break dunk with 35.1 seconds left in the third quarter, the Clippers took their first lead of the second half, 68-67. That was fleeting as Derek Fisher answered with a 3-point shot, nine seconds later. But heading into the fourth quarter it was tied 70-70. Bryant scored 18 first-half points as he maneuvered the Lakers to a 49-35 lead at halftime. The Lakers finished particularly strong in the first half with a 13-2 run. That's when Bryant really got into a groove, scoring nine points in that run. Whether Maggette or Darius Miles guarded Bryant, it didn't seem to matter. He made outside shots, drove to the basket and shot 8 of 15. Bryant's show-stealing topper Topper house he purchases is haunted by the young couple who owned it previously and their dog. [Am. Lit., Cin., TV: Topper in Halliwell, 718] See : Ghost Topper Hopalong Cassidy’s faithful horse. was a wide-open, fast-break layup. Instead of opting for a fancy dunk, Bryant nonchalantly non·cha·lant adj. Seeming to be coolly unconcerned or indifferent. See Synonyms at cool. [French, from Old French, present participle of nonchaloir, to be unconcerned : non-, made a layup, which gave the Lakers a 47-33 lead. The Clippers limited O'Neal to eight points in the first half. His counterpart at center, Olowokandi, had 12 points and seven rebounds in the first half. Olowokandi and Brand, who had 10 points and six rebounds in the first half, seemed to be the only bright spots for the Clippers in the early going. After the first quarter, the Lakers led, 25-19. Maggette canned a 3-point shot with 6:25 left to give the Clippers a 13-12 lead, but after that, the Clippers never again led in the first half. O'Neal looked energized. It was his second game since serving a three- game suspension for taking a swipe at the Chicago Bulls' Brad Miller Brad Miller can refer to any of several people:
``To think you're going to stop him is ridiculous,'' Gentry said. As far as bodying up on O'Neal, like the Bulls tried with Miller, the coach didn't quite adopt that strategy. He didn't want to get dirty, but he did want to get physical. That was a distinction, in which Gentry figured was appropriate and even OK with O'Neal. He didn't expect the Lakers' big man to get angry, as he did against the Bulls. ``I don't think Shaq gets upset when he's fouled hard,'' Gentry said. ``He's upset when the fouls are cheap.'' The Lakers have owned the Clippers, historically. Before the Clippers broke through with a 118-95 victory last season. The Lakers had won 15 consecutive games against them. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Clippers center Michael Olowokandi shoots over the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal during Wednesday night's game. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Box: GAME RECAP |
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