achtungbaby
02-04-2003, 07:38 PM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored 35 points, Shaquille O'Neal fought off foul trouble for 19 points and 12 rebounds and Devean George hit a key 3-pointer as the Los Angles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers 97-94 Tuesday night.
It was the first game between the teams since Reggie Miller and Bryant fought after a Los Angeles win last March at the Staples Center. Bryant threw a punch at Miller and the two landed on the scorers' table near the Pacers' bench.
Shaquille O'Neal and Brad Miller were also involved in a fight last season when Miller was still with the Bulls. The two tapped fists before the game and there were no signs of bad blood between teams.
The Lakers led by nine with 2 minutes left before Indiana reeled off six straight points to trail 94-91 with under a minute left.
Then George -- a 30 percent 3-point shooter -- drilled one to make it 97-91.
It proved to be huge, as Brad Miller, Indiana's All-Star center, made a 3 from the top of the arc to make it 97-94 with 30 seconds left.
Bryant misfired on a jumper and Indiana's Al Harrington grabbed the rebound. He paused as if he were going to call a timeout, then passed to Reggie Miller who missed a 35-footer as time expired.
Jermaine O'Neal had 23 points and 20 rebounds for Indiana. Harrington scored 22, Erick Strickland had 18 points, Reggie Miller 14 and Brad Miller had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Samaki Walker had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers.
The Lakers have won 12 of 16 and four straight, with three of those on the road. The Lakers will need to win at New York on Thursday to avoid a sub-.500 record at the All-Star break for the first time since 1993-94.
Bryant was coming off a 42-point game against Utah on Saturday and had scored 38 and 40 the two game before that. He continued that hot streak early, scoring 20 points in the first half on 9-for-16 shooting.
The Pacers withstood Bryant's scoring bursts though, and led 48-46 at the half, as both teams struggled shooting the ball. Indiana shot 30 percent in the second quarter while the Lakers made just 36 percent of their shots.
The awful shooting continued in the third and Shaquille O'Neal's foul trouble became a problem. O'Neal picked up his third and fourth fouls in the opening minutes of the half and sat out the final seven minutes of the third quarter.
The Lakers went ahead for good, 72-70, following two free throws by Bryant. He added a driving layup to end the third.
Reggie Miller tried to rally Indiana in the fourth. He hit two 3-pointers as Indiana pulled to 85-83 with 3:52.
The Lakers would score five straight points, when Indiana turned to Reggie Miller again. This time a charging Bryant batted Miller's left arm on a 3 attempt. Miller made two of three free throws to make it 90-85.
After two Robert Horry free throws gave the Lakers a 94-85 lead, the Pacers got baskets from O'Neal, Strickland and Harrington.
It was the first game between the teams since Reggie Miller and Bryant fought after a Los Angeles win last March at the Staples Center. Bryant threw a punch at Miller and the two landed on the scorers' table near the Pacers' bench.
Shaquille O'Neal and Brad Miller were also involved in a fight last season when Miller was still with the Bulls. The two tapped fists before the game and there were no signs of bad blood between teams.
The Lakers led by nine with 2 minutes left before Indiana reeled off six straight points to trail 94-91 with under a minute left.
Then George -- a 30 percent 3-point shooter -- drilled one to make it 97-91.
It proved to be huge, as Brad Miller, Indiana's All-Star center, made a 3 from the top of the arc to make it 97-94 with 30 seconds left.
Bryant misfired on a jumper and Indiana's Al Harrington grabbed the rebound. He paused as if he were going to call a timeout, then passed to Reggie Miller who missed a 35-footer as time expired.
Jermaine O'Neal had 23 points and 20 rebounds for Indiana. Harrington scored 22, Erick Strickland had 18 points, Reggie Miller 14 and Brad Miller had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Samaki Walker had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers.
The Lakers have won 12 of 16 and four straight, with three of those on the road. The Lakers will need to win at New York on Thursday to avoid a sub-.500 record at the All-Star break for the first time since 1993-94.
Bryant was coming off a 42-point game against Utah on Saturday and had scored 38 and 40 the two game before that. He continued that hot streak early, scoring 20 points in the first half on 9-for-16 shooting.
The Pacers withstood Bryant's scoring bursts though, and led 48-46 at the half, as both teams struggled shooting the ball. Indiana shot 30 percent in the second quarter while the Lakers made just 36 percent of their shots.
The awful shooting continued in the third and Shaquille O'Neal's foul trouble became a problem. O'Neal picked up his third and fourth fouls in the opening minutes of the half and sat out the final seven minutes of the third quarter.
The Lakers went ahead for good, 72-70, following two free throws by Bryant. He added a driving layup to end the third.
Reggie Miller tried to rally Indiana in the fourth. He hit two 3-pointers as Indiana pulled to 85-83 with 3:52.
The Lakers would score five straight points, when Indiana turned to Reggie Miller again. This time a charging Bryant batted Miller's left arm on a 3 attempt. Miller made two of three free throws to make it 90-85.
After two Robert Horry free throws gave the Lakers a 94-85 lead, the Pacers got baskets from O'Neal, Strickland and Harrington.