|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Coming back with Kobe Bryant sparks Shaq-less Lakers to OT win
Posted: Tuesday April 11, 2000 02:42 AM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Lakers squeezed out a win they really didn't need Monday night. Glen Rice, for one, was ecstatic that they got it. Rice drilled a 20-foot jumper from the right baseline as time expired in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and Kobe Bryant scored five of his 33 points in the extra period as the Lakers topped the slumping Seattle SuperSonics 106-103. Once again, the Lakers played without Shaquille O'Neal, the NBA's leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, who missed his second game with a sprained left ankle. The Lakers trailed 94-92 with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation when Brian Shaw inbounded the ball to Rice, who made the big shot under heavy pressure to tie the game. "I barely got it off," said Rice, who had 28 points and nine rebounds. "I feel pretty good about it. It was a big-time shot, gave the team a chance go to into overtime and win the game. "I knew it was going in, it's sweet. Those are things that you cherish for a lifetime. It's definitely a lift for me. Shaq is a very important player to the team, obviously we miss him. I think it was very important that we got a win without him in the lineup." The win was the 31st in 33 games for the Lakers, who have already secured the NBA's best record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Sonics, who have clinched a playoff berth, lost for the ninth time in 11 games. "It was a pretty nice win," Lakers guard Ron Harper said. "Glen's a guy who we know can shoot the basketball. Glen had fun tonight, he had the hot hand." Harper made it clear that facing the Sonics in the first round of the playoffs with O'Neal in the Lakers' lineup was fine with him. "We would love to see them early," Harper said with a smile. Bryant, who also had 10 rebounds and six assists, made a short bank shot with 1:36 remaining to snap a 100-all tie and put the Lakers ahead for good. Rice made two free throws with 10.4 seconds left to give the Lakers a four-point lead. Shammond Williams, who scored 17 of his career-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, made a 3-point shot to draw the Sonics within one, but A.C. Green scored on a breakaway dunk with 4.7 seconds left to complete the scoring. Seattle's Vernon Maxwell missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds. Gary Payton had 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Sonics, who trailed 73-60 entering the fourth quarter before Williams led their comeback. Lazaro Borrell, another reserve, scored all 10 of his points in the period. "Every night I'm not promised I'll get to play," Williams said. 'We've got some good players and some good veterans. You just have to wait your turn. And when you're called upon, you just have to try to make the best of the opportunity." Williams certainly did that Monday. "There were some fantastic performances by both teams," Sonics coach Paul Westphal said. "Individual efforts were just incredible. Who would have thought it would be a shootout between Shammond Williams and Lazaro Borrell against Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice?" Bryant, who made only 2-of-12 shots in the first half and scored eight points, went 7-of-9 in the third quarter and scored 16 points as the Lakers outscored the Sonics 34-20 to take a 13-point lead. O'Neal said before the game his ankle was improving, and he hopes to play when the Lakers return to action Friday night against Sacramento, like Seattle, a possible first-round playoff opponent. O'Neal, who sprained his ankle while scoring 49 points against Golden State last Wednesday night, sat out Saturday's 98-80 loss to San Antonio. Vin Baker, Seattle's second-leading scorer, drew his third foul 61/2 minutes into the game and sat out the rest of the first half. Baker had only three points and nine rebounds before fouling out with 3:27 left in overtime.
Notes: The Lakers paid tribute to Wilt Chamberlain, the second-leading scorer in NBA history, in a brief ceremony before the game. Chamberlain, a member of the Lakers' 1971-72 championship team, died six months ago at age 63. ... The Sonics handed the Lakers one of their five losses at Staples Center on Jan. 17, winning an 82-81 decision on a 3-point shot by Payton with 16 seconds left, capping a 36-point performance. The Lakers won both games between the teams in Seattle. ... Payton has scored 20 or more points in 15 straight games. ... Seattle's Horace Grant recorded the 1,000th blocked shot of his career in the fourth quarter. ... The Lakers made 26-of-30 free throws while the Sonics were just 16-of-28.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
