FIRST QUARTER IN REVIEWWas it something Del...
FIRST QUARTER IN REVIEW
Was it something Del Harris said? Michael Jordan does not make a field goal until 4:10 remain in the quarter, but makes up for it by scoring 12 of the Bulls’ final 14 points. Elden Campbell doesn’t even glance at Shaquille O’Neal on the bench while embarrassing Luc Longley twice and Bill Wennington once. And hey, Shaq, the Sleepy One even made both of his free throws. Lakers finish the quarter with an ally-oop scoring pass from Nick Van Exel to Kobe Bryant, capping a six-point run. On the bench in a black silk suit, O’Neal yawns.
* LAKERS’ LEADING SCORERS
Campbell 8, Van Exel 7
* LAKERS’ LEADING REBOUNDERS
Campbell and Van Exel, 3
* OTHER STUFF
Lakers have 11 assists, no turnovers.
* BULLS’ LEADING SCORERS
Jordan 13, Pippen and Longley, 6
* BULLS’ LEADING REBOUNDERS
Pippen 3, Longley 2
* OTHER STUFF
Bulls commit three turnovers that lead to six Laker points, the first-quarter margin.
SECOND QUARTER IN REVIEW
Jordan doesn’t play for first 3:45, and guess what? Lakers outscore Bulls, 8-4. Jordan returns and promptly has a shot blocked by Bryant, misses a layup while being guarded by Bryant, and scores only four points in the quarter. First Campbell, then Kleine? Joe Kleine plays five minutes, has two rebounds, scores two points--equaling his output in five previous games. Lakers end half with 10 free throws in 10 attempts. And O’Neal yawns.
* LAKERS’ LEADING SCORERS
Jones 8, Campbell 6
* LAKERS’ LEADING REBOUNDERS
Campbell 4, Horry 3
* OTHER STUFF
Travis Knight started, yet didn’t play one second in this quarter and had zero points and two fouls at halftime.
* BULLS’ LEADING SCORERS
Kukoc 5, Pippen and Jordan 4.
* BULLS’ LEADING REBOUNDERS
Kukoc, Pippen and Caffey 2.
* OTHER STUFF
The Bulls’ two big men, Wennington and Longley, combine for two points and zero rebounds against Campbell.
THIRD QUARTER IN REVIEW
Campbell continues to dominate, driving at will, scoring with ease, forcing the Bulls to bring in Dickey Simpkins to guard him. That doesn’t work, either, with Campbell leaving to a standing ovation in the final moments of the quarter. The biggest Laker play belongs to Jones, who blocks a shot by Jordan with four minutes remaining, leading the Lakers to a 13-6 run to end the quarter. Jordan wows the crowd with a drive that takes him around Jones, underneath the basket, and past Campbell, but that happens with 3:31 left, and tiring Jordan does not score again.
* LAKERS’ LEADING SCORERS
Campbell 15, Van Exel 7.
* LAKERS’ LEADING REBOUNDERS
Kersey 3; Knight, Horry, Campbell and Jones 2.
* OTHER STUFF
Lakers outrebound Bulls, 12-5, and force five more Bull turnovers, giving them 12 for the game.
* BULLS’ LEADING SCORERS
Kukoc, Pippen and Jordan 6, Harper 3.
* BULLS’ LEADING REBOUNDERS
Brown and Simpkins 2.
* OTHER STUFF
Bulls’ tandem of Longley and Wennington combine for two points and no rebounds.
FOURTH QUARTER IN REVIEW
Biggest moment is when Campbell scores his career-high 34th point with two free throws with 1:27 remaining. Most symbolic moment is when rookie Knight replaces Campbell moments later and realizes that the standing ovation is not for him. Knight started, played 10 minutes, and scored zilch. The Bulls wilted, then hid, closing their locker room to the media for more than 20 minutes afterward, a direct violation of the league rule that states the door must open within 10 minutes. But can you blame them?
* LAKERS’ LEADING SCORERS
Jones 6, Van Exel 5, Campbell 4.
* LAKERS’ LEADING REBOUNDERS
Campbell 5, Van Exel 4, Jones 3.
* OTHER STUFF
Despite the big lead, the Lakers inexplicably throw up six three-point shots, making only one.
* BULLS’ LEADING SCORERS
Pippen 6, Jordan and Buechler 4.
* BULLS’ LEADING REBOUNDERS
Caffey and Buechler 3.
* OTHER STUFF
The weary Bulls make only 26.1% of their two-point shots.
Capsules by staff writer Bill Plaschke
More to Read
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Dan Woike's weekly newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.