O’Neal Is Simply Too Much for Timberwolves

For a while on Wednesday, as the Minnesota frontcourt scattered and shattered, it looked as if Shaquille O’Neal could beat the Timberwolves by himself.

For a while, parting the key and leading the way, he almost did.

In the Lakers’ last game before the All-Star break, the Timberwolves broke, and it was O’Neal who did the squeezing and stomping in the Lakers’ 114-81 victory before 18,843 at Staples Center.

Ending this portion of the season as he began it, O’Neal scored 37 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked four shots in 35 minutes, checking out for good with the Lakers leading by 26 and 5:19 left in the game.

He also made 15 of his 20 free throws amid a parade of defenders reaching and grabbing him throughout the game.

“When Shaq’s playing at the level he played at tonight,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said, “he dominates the game.”

The first time O’Neal came out of the game, midway through the second quarter, he had 25 points--the same total as the entire Minnesota team.

“I was just telling my guys to get the ball to me because I was hitting my free throws,” O’Neal said. “My guys were looking for me and everything was going pretty good.

“If they had looked for me a little more in the second half, I would’ve had 60,” O’Neal said with a grin.

Asked why he went back in so late in the game, O’Neal cracked: “Because Phil put me back in.”

Jackson said he didn’t know if any momentum would carry over through the break, but said he was pleased with the team’s performance.

“I think the biggest thing about this team is that they’re more than meeting the expectations of what I’ve expected them to do,” Jackson said.

Jackson took extra time after the game to talk to his players about the five-day break before the team reassembles Monday in Chicago for a Tuesday game. The next game after that is Wednesday against Charlotte.

“I think it’s tough to maintain any momentum after an All-Star break, when you come apart and to come back together again,” Jackson said. “It’s four or five days later, we’ll be in snowbound country, etc., by that time . . .

“I kind of outlined some of the things I’d like them to think about. Chicago’s a game I want them to play really well in. Charlotte, they have some history with Charlotte . . .

“So there’s some games there that bring interest to the players. I just wanted to remind them who they were playing and how important it is to maintain our record while on this six-game road trip.”

On Wednesday, the Laker defense continued its recent clampdown, holding Minnesota, the fourth-best field-goal shooting team in the league at 46.4% before Wednesday, to only 34.1% shooting.

Minnesota was limited almost strictly to jump shots, and did not make many of them.

Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 29 points on 10-for-20 shooting, but no other teammate scored more than 11 or made 50% of his shots.

Minnesota was without dangerous point guard Terrell Brandon, and could get no penetration against a Laker defense that recently has struggled against dribble-drives.

With the victory, the Lakers (37-11) remained a half-game behind Portland for the Pacific Division lead and the best record in the NBA.

It also gave the Lakers a modest three-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break.

Kobe Bryant, the Lakers’ other All-Star starter along with O’Neal, added 24 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Glen Rice, however, did not make a shot in six attempts, and Jackson conceded that he is slightly concerned with the downturn in Rice’s productivity.

“I just want him to feel comfortable shooting the basketball,” Jackson said. “Even if he misses, to shoot it and feel comfortable with the level of what he’s doing for our team, doing what he does best, and that’s finding a rhythm shot out there.”

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* PORTLAND 107, CLIPPERS 100

Early 18-point lead is not enough as L.A. gets overwhelmed by Trail Blazers in fifth consecutive loss. Page 5