NO LETUP BY LAKERS BIG STAPLES CROWD CAN'T BOOST CLIPPERS LAKERS 98, CLIPPERS 93.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer The crowd was conflicted. The result was not. Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). was simultaneously booed and cheered as he was introduced. 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. garnered the same reaction. During the Lakers' 98-93 victory over the Clippers, the sounds remained much the same from 20,316 Tuesday 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. . Ultimately, the Lakers displayed their two major strengths, and it didn't matter that Lindsey Hunter Lindsey Benson Hunter, Jr. (born December 3 1970, in Utica, Mississippi) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA. He is a guard for the Detroit Pistons in active rotation off the bench. missed six consecutive free throws in the last two minutes. Even with Hunter's woes, the Clippers could not pull closer than three points in the fourth quarter. O'Neal had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Bryant had 25 points and 12 assists to lead the Lakers (9-1). It was Bryant's career high in assists. Like O'Neal, the Clippers' 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. took advantage of repeated mismatches inside. He had 22 points and 19 rebounds, and 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. added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Clippers (5-6). The Lakers led the entire second half and by early in the fourth quarter had a 16-point lead. The Clippers made a run in the final three minutes "Three Minutes" is the 46th episode of Lost. It is the twenty-second episode of the second season. The episode was directed by Stephen Williams, and written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. It first aired on May 17, 2006 on ABC. and deliberately fouled O'Neal and Hunter late. But the run came too late for the Clippers. The closest the Clippers came in the fourth quarter was three points. They pulled within 92-89 with 1:02 left when Jeff McInnis Jeff Lemans McInnis (born October 22 1974 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is an American NBA basketball player, currently playing point guard for the Charlotte Bobcats. made a running jump shot, capping a 13-2 run. They also pulled to 94-91 with 47 seconds left after Sean Rooks Sean Lester Rooks (born September 9 1969 in New York City) is a retired American basketball player at the center position in the National Basketball Association. He attended the University of Arizona and was drafted in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. made two free throws, but that was as close as they got. This was the Clippers' 17th loss in their last 18 meetings with the Lakers. All the Lakers had to do was maintain the lead in the fourth quarter. The game was won when they outscored the Clippers 25-18 in the third quarter. O'Neal and Bryant teamed up for several plays in the third quarter to give the Lakers a 77-64 lead heading into the fourth quarter. With 8:46 left, O'Neal snagged a rebound, drove the length of the floor, split the Clippers' defense and dunked to give the Lakers a 61-48 lead. With 5:03 left in the third, O'Neal gave an over-the-shoulder pass to Bryant, who scored to give the Lakers a 66-52 lead, their biggest through three quarters. Bryant returned the highlight-reel antics with 4:29 left in the quarter. O'Neal jammed off an alley-oop pass to give the Lakers a 68-58 advantage. Officially, this was a Clippers' home game, even though the Lakers' eight championship banners and seven retired jerseys were the backdrop to the game. Though the crowd was conflicted, it did look more like a Clippers' home game than a Lakers' home game. O'Neal scored 16 points and Bryant added 14 in the first half to give the Lakers a 52-46 lead at halftime. The only major difficulty the Lakers encountered in the first half was rebounding - the Clippers controlled the boards with a 34-19 edge. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Michael Olowokandi, left, and Cory Maggette of the Clippers try to take ball from the Lakers' Kobe Bryant in the first quarter Tuesday night at Staples Center. (2) Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal powers his way to an easy basket. At right is Clippers guard Quintin Richardson. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer Box: Game Recap |
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