GAME REPORT
FIRST QUARTER: LAKERS 28, TRAIL BLAZERS 19
* Highlight Reel: Shaquille O’Neal is at it again, making all six of his shots, including a driving lay-up off a smooth wrap-around pass from Rick Fox.
* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: Corie Blount (you remember him: good rebounder) plays four minutes--two less than he played in the first three games--and responds with three rebounds, one block and two points.
* Winning Number: The Lakers’ 16-1 run turns a 12-8 deficit into a 24-13 lead.
* Wrong Number: Rasheed Wallace and Isaiah Rider combine to make only two of nine shots for the Trail Blazers.
SECOND QUARTER: LAKERS 56, TRAIL BLAZERS 40
* Highlight Reel: Elden Campbell makes two free throws without a miss, O’Neal does the same and Nick Van Exel makes one as the Lakers finish the quarter five-for-five. Now that’s archive material.
* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: Kobe Bryant dishes out three spectacular assists to go along with a beyond-his-years turnaround jumper that gives the Lakers a 49-33 lead.
* Winning Number: 100%. See highlight reel above for shades of Bill Sharman.
* Wrong Number: Trail Blazers shoot only 29% from field for quarter, 33% for the half.
THIRD QUARTER: LAKERS 78, TRAIL BLAZERS 65
* Highlight Reel: Eddie Jones blocks Rider’s jumper, streaks down the floor and takes a pass from O’Neal to finish the play with a dunk.
* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: The lame flop Trail Blazer center Arvydas Sabonis tries to pull off as O’Neal dunks over him.
* Winning Number: O’Neal scores 10 of his 31 points and grabs six of his 15 rebounds in the quarter.
* Wrong Number: Walt Williams, averaging 15 points off the bench in the series, does not take a shot in four minutes of action.
FINAL: LAKERS 110, TRAIL BLAZERS 99
* Highlight Reel: Bryant looks every bit the Air-apparent with a drive from the left wing into the lane for a soaring jam over Sabonis.
* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: Van Exel, uh, implores a fan to quiet down after Damon Stoudamire beats him on a drive.
* Winning Number: Bryant scores 13 of his 22 points in the quarter as Laker reserves outscore their Trail Blazer counterparts, 48-15, in the game.
* Wrong Number: Rider makes only four of 14 shots in game without a three-pointer.
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