Opener a Hit, Not a Smash

Two big leads were history. Shaquille O’Neal had five fouls and most of the fourth quarter was still ahead. Kobe Bryant was in uniform but out of action.

This was the Laker season of grand dreams?

OK, so they lost leads of 15 and 17 points in each of the first two quarters, but not the game. O’Neal hung on until the end, or at least he came out on his own with 46 seconds left, and so did the Lakers, holding on for a 96-82 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the opener Friday night before 17,505 at the Forum.

O’Neal lasted 35 minutes despite the foul troubles, finishing with 23 points and 14 rebounds while making eight of 10 shots from the field and seven of 11 from the line. Cedric Ceballos, hurting his former team again, added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Elden Campbell had 16 points.

This was in contrast to the Suns’ starting front line: Robert Horry, A.C. Green and Joe Kleine had four points and eight rebounds. Combined.

The game came only after the considerable buildup, complete with about 240 media credentials issued, a little less than would cover a conference finals. There were nine countries represented.

International excitement. Internal excitement too.

“I sense it being a lot like the ‘80s,” Byron Scott, a mainstay then and a key reserve now, said of the opening night unlike any other in team history. “It’s the beginning of the season and everybody is so into it. The fans, the electricity in the air--it’s so unbelievable.”

Said Coach Del Harris: “I don’t want to be too cool about this. I don’t get quite the same excitement at Christmastime as I did when I was a kid, but I would say, all in all, it compares to these moments.

“I appreciate this moment and I have not lost the significance of this moment for the organization. It goes beyond just a moment in my life.”

Then it was some tough moments for everybody: the Lakers jumping to a 15-point lead just 9:27 in, then having it cut to two early in the second quarter. Nick Van Exel picking up two fouls in 2:36 and playing only eight minutes the first quarter. The other starting guard, Eddie Jones, managing only 10 minutes because of three personals. O’Neal getting his third foul with 5:34 remaining in the second quarter.

The bench--the question mark coming into the season and an even bigger one now amidst injuries--got an immediate test. Then, it got results.

With Corie Blount, Derek Fisher and Scott making contributions to support Ceballos’ offense, Blount getting seven points and four rebounds in 10 minutes of the second quarter alone, the Lakers surged again. It went from a two-point game back to the 15 in a little less than four minutes, then to a 17-point cushion at halftime, 57-40.

When O’Neal got his fourth foul with 4:24 left in the third, he went to the bench. So did the momentum. Within minutes, the Lakers were not only searching for their rhythm but having to look hard to find the lead, suddenly down to 70-69 as the Suns went on a 13-2 run.

Turned out that was just the introduction to trouble. Real Laker problems emerged when O’Neal drove his shoulder into Danny Manning, earning an offensive foul with 9:42 left, his fifth personal. Fifty-five seconds later, Phoenix went ahead on Sam Cassell’s three-pointer.

The Lakers responded with a 10-0 rally, getting the lead back for good. For good measure--or just to be on the safe side--they even got a double-digit lead back, taking a 90-80 advantage into the final 2 1/2 minutes.

* MARK HEISLER

The Lakers have a bigger look with Shaquille O’Neal in the middle, and the downsized Suns couldn’t handle him. C8

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

A Season of Expectations

The Lakers acquired nine new players this season, including Shaquille O’Neal and his $120-million contract. In turn, with big acquisitions come big expectations. Throughout the season, The Times will monitor O’Neal’s numbers along with how the team compares to some of the best Laker teams in history.

GAME 1 OF 82

* Record 1-0

* Standing 1st place Western Division

1996-97 LAKERS VS. THE BEST LAKER TEAMS

*--*

Year Gm. 1 Overall 1987-88 1-0 62-20 1986-87 0-1 65-17 1984-85 0-1 62-20 1979-80 1-0 60-22 1971-72 1-0 69-13

*--*

Note: The five teams above all won NBA championshipsTHE SHAQ SCOREBOARD

Basketball Numbers

* Friday’s Game:

*--*

Min FG% FT% Reb Blk Pts 35.0 .800 .636 14.0 2.0 23.0

*--*

* 1996-97 Season Averages:

*--*

Min FG% FT% Reb Blk Pts 35.0 .800 .636 14.0 2.0 23.0

*--*

* 1995-96 Season Averages:

*--*

Min FG% FT% Reb Blk Pts 36.0 .573 .487 11.0 2.12 26.6

*--*

Money Numbers

* Friday’s salary $130,658.53

* Season Totals $130,658.53

* FACTOID: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 18-foot hook shot beat the San Diego Clippers, 103-102, at the buzzer to open the 1979-80 season. Abdul-Jabbar was stunned when rookie Magic Johnson hugged the reserved center while racing off the court.