RIM AND BEAR IT HORRY MISSES THIS TIME; L.A. ON BRINK SAN ANTONIO 96, LAKERS 94.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO - After all the madness and mayhem they have endured - torn tendons, clogged arteries, and all the pain and uncertainty that comes along - the Lakers gladly turned to an old, sure thing Tuesday night. Turned to the oldest, surest thing in their championship arsenal.

With the conference semifinals on the line and coach Phil Jackson's heart being tested, with a two-point deficit and time running out, they handed the ball to Robert Horry, standing 25 feet from the basket.

It was a formula that had produced only magic and glory and chills for three years. But in a season in which nothing comes as easily anymore, even the Lakers' surest thing failed Tuesday.

Horry launched with 3.6 seconds left, the ball rattled in and out, and the Lakers lost 96-94 to the San Antonio Spurs at SBC Center. They trail 3-2 in the series and face elimination for the first time this season and just the fifth time in Jackson's tenure. They are 4-0 in those situations.

Game 6 is Thursday at Staples Center. If the Lakers are to win the series, it will have to come in Game 7 here Saturday.

It will have to come with the kind of inspired play that brought them back from a 25-point deficit here Tuesday. Only with a better finish.

In a playoff run that has been uncommonly tough and ever unpredictable, even the Lakers' Mr. Clutch has lost his touch. It was Horry who delivered game-winning 3-pointers in Game 3 of the first round and Game 4 of the conference finals last year.

``I thought it felt really good,'' Horry said. ``It was on the money, it just didn't fall for me.''

He was 0 for 5 from the arc before the final play, 0 for 14 in the series and 2 for 34 in the playoffs.

But he wanted the ball, and Kobe Bryant passed it to him, and all of Los Angeles was sure it was the right move.

``I always want the ball,'' Horry said. ``Especially in a situation like that, I never doubt myself.''

The rebound went to David Robinson and the game went to the Spurs, who are 3-0 at home in this series.

``Every one of us thought that shot was down, and it was,'' Jackson said. ``And it came back out. And that ruined a night in which we made a great comeback.''

Jackson's cardiovascular system withstood the stress, better it seems, than the Lakers did. They were listless for the first half, outhustled and outrebounded and nearly out of the game entirely.

Shaquille O'Neal had just six rebounds through three quarters, and Jackson held him out of the first 5 1/2 minutes of the fourth while the Lakers made their comeback.

``We couldn't have gotten back in the game if Shaquille was on the floor,'' Jackson said. ``We needed active defense, and we needed aggressive play out there. Shaquille was not active tonight, he didn't move well defensively. He didn't get back on defense; it hurt us a little bit.''

Bryant said O'Neal was having some trouble with his left knee, which has bothered him most of the season. O'Neal admitted to no physical issues - ``Who cares? I don't care'' - but did concede he was not at his best. He finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

``I did all right. But I can do a lot better,'' O'Neal said.

It was Bryant who led the Lakers back, scoring 36 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. But Horry finished 3 for 10 from the field, and gimpy Devean George missed all seven of his shots. Slava Medvedenko scored 13 points and gave the Lakers a big boost in the fourth quarter.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Tony Parker added 21 points, and the Spurs took the game Jackson predicted would determine the winner of the series.

Down 78-53 in the third quarter, the Lakers put together a 33-12 run over the next 11 minutes, and with 3:24 to go they trailed 90-86. Bryant hit consecutive 3-pointers, including one at the third-quarter buzzer.

Bryant hit another 3-pointer late in the fourth, and O'Neal followed with a three-point play, and the Lakers trailed 95-94 with 19.7 seconds left. Stephen Jackson made 1 of 2 free throws, setting the stage for Horry.

``Everything bounced our way,'' Bryant said, ``except for that last shot.''

Jackson returned to the Lakers' bench, two days after missing Game 4 and three days after undergoing an angioplasty to clear a clogged artery.

Dr. John Moe, the team's internist, sat directly across from Jackson and next to Lakers vice president Jeanie Buss, Jackson's girlfriend. Both kept a wary eye on Jackson, who of course said he felt fine.

``We didn't do the job, we didn't get the win,'' Jackson said. ``But we got what we were after, we got an opportunity to win the game, and we're going to go back and win one and come back here and find a way to win No. 7.''

CAPTION(S):

14 photos, 6 boxes, chart

Photo:

(1) SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

(2) KOBE BRYANT

(3) DEREK FISHER

(4) ROBERT HORRY

(5) DEVEAN GEORGE(6) SLAVA MEDVEDENKO

(7) TIM DUNCAN

(8) DAVID ROBINSON

(9) TONY PARKER

(10) STEPHEN JACKSON

(11) BRUCE BOWEN

(12) EMANUEL GINOBILI

(13 -- color) Robert Horry reacts Tuesday after missing what would have been a game-winning shot.

(14) San Antonio's Manu Ginobili, left, pulls down a second-quarter rebound with Kobe Bryant lurking behind.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Box:

(1) STORY LINES

(2) LAKERS REPORT CARD

(3) SAN ANTONIO REPORT CARD

(4) A CLOSER LOOK

(5) QUARTER-BY-QUARTER

(6) LAKERS vs. SAN ANTONIO: San Antonio leads series 3-2

Chart:

NUMBERS GAME