Charting The Lead: A look at the Lakers’ lead or deficit by the minute
Lakers: 15
Portland: 26
Highlight Reel: Kobe Bryant was trapped in the corner but squeezed between a double team of Damon Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace. Bryant’s shot, however, was blocked by Arvydas Sabonis, which led to a Trail Blazer fastbreak that ended with a Stoudamire layup.
It’s Not in the Box Score: How the Rose Garden crowd cheered for Wallace every time he received the ball in the low post. Chants of “Sheeeeeeed” were heard often as he scored two early baskets inside.
Winning Number: Eight. The total points scored in the quarter by Stoudamire, who had been in a scoring funk but came out flying as he helped the Trail Blazers to six fastbreak points.
Wrong Numbers: Five and one, field goals attempted and made by Bryant in the quarter.
Leading Scorers: Lakers: Shaquille O’Neal and Ron Harper, each with 4. Trail Blazers: Steve Smith, 10.
Leading Rebounders:Lakers: O’Neal, 5. Trail Blazers: Smith, 3.
*
Lakers’ biggest lead was 3
Portland’s: biggest lead was 11
Second Quarter
Lakers: 39
Portland: 49
Highlight Reel: Bryant got into the flow early when he completed a give-and-go play with Robert Horry and dunked with his right hand over Sabonis.
It’s Not in the Box Score: How the body language of the Laker coaching staff did not change much when the Trail Blazers made a run, thanks to a missed three-point attempt by Rick Fox and a couple of turnovers by O’Neal.
Winning Number: 11. The total points scored in the quarter by Bryant, who kept the Lakers close with an assortment of baskets.
Wrong Number: Six. Free throws attempted and missed in the first half by O’Neal, who seemed ripe for a Hack-a-Shaq second half.
Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant, 11. Trail Blazers: Wallace, 7.
Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Horry, 2. Trail Blazers: Bonzi Wells, Bryant Grant and Detlef Schrempf, each with 2.
*
Lakers did not lead
Portland’s: biggest lead was 15
Third Quarter
Lakers: 63
Portland: 71
Highlight Reel: The Lakers have not been able to stop Wallace all season and he continued his success when he got the ball in the low post, spun around Horry and dunked over Bryant. The next time he got the ball he made a jump shot with Horry defending.
It’s Not in the Box Score: The look of pain on Scottie Pippen’s face when he was knocked to the floor after he ran into O’Neal, who was called for a flagrant foul on Pippen’s layup attempt.
Winning Number: 13. Free throws attempted in the quarter by the Trail Blazers after they attempted only five in the first half.
Wrong Number: Two. The total points scored by the Laker bench players. Horry made two free throws.
Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant, 7. Trail Blazers: Smith, 9.
Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal, 5. Trail Blazers: Sabonis, 7.
*
Lakers did not lead
Portland’s: biggest lead was 11
Fourth Quarter
Lakers: 93
Portland: 103
Highlight Reel: It may not have won the game for the Lakers, but Bryant put on a three-point shooting exhibition by making four long-range shots in the final minutes.
It’s Not in the Box Score: The Lakers’ Rick Fox got into a verbal run-in with Portland Coach Mike Dunleavy after he exchanged words with Pippen, who walked away without a confrontation.
Winning Number: .639. The Lakers’ three-point shooting percentage, with Bryant making six of the team’s 12, the most ever given up by Portland in a playoff game.
Wrong Number: Zero. The total points scored in the quarter by Glen Rice, who missed his only field-goal attempt and did not add much when the Lakers needed him most.
Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant, 12. Trail Blazers: Wells, 14.
Leading Rebounders:Lakers: Brian Shaw, 3. Trail Blazers: Sabonis, 4.
*
Lakers did not lead
Portland’s: biggest lead was 15
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
LAKERS’ BIG 3
O’NEAL
*--*
Fri. Series 17 Points 27.2 11 Rebounds 13.0 5 Assists 4.2
*--*
BRYANT
*--*
Fri. Series 33 Points 19.7 2 Rebounds 3.8 6 Assists 5.7
*--*
RICE
*--*
Fri. Series 12 Points 11.0 2 Rebounds 3.3 0 Assists 1.7
*--*
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.