GAME 4 REPORT

FIRST QUARTER

SAN ANTONIO 27 LAKERS 21

Highlight reel: After being a non-factor in Game 3, the Spurs’ Hedo Turkoglu made the Lakers pay for leaving him loosely defended with a monster quarter. Turkoglu scored 11 points on four-of-seven shooting, including three three-point baskets, and grabbed three rebounds to spark San Antonio to an early lead.

Not in the box score: The Spurs’ Tim Duncan splitting a double team by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, then missing a right-hand jam that bounced off the rim and out of bounds.

Winning number: Nine, the assists on 10 field goals by the Spurs, who were committed to making the extra pass whenever the Lakers began to double-team Tony Parker or Duncan.

Wrong number: 36.8% shooting by the Lakers. Karl Malone and Bryant combined to miss seven of 10 attempts.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 7, O’Neal 6, Gary Payton and Malone 4; Spurs -- Turkoglu 11, Duncan 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 3, Malone, Bryant and Payton 2; Spurs -- Turkoglu and Robert Horry 3, Rasho Nesterovic, Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen 2.

*

SECOND QUARTER

SAN ANTONIO 53 LAKERS 43

Highlight reel: Bryant bounced back from a cold-shooting opening quarter with an electrifying second that included several spectacular plays. Bryant’s most impressive move came when he lost Bowen around a Malone screen and dribbled into the key for a monster two-handed dunk before Duncan and Nesterovic could react.

Not in the box score: How distracted Staples Center fans became when the Spurs answered a Bryant-inspired Laker rally with a 12-3 run of their own to close the quarter. With Parker and Ginobili combining for 16 points, the Spurs went into halftime with a double-digit lead.

Winning number: 25, the total rebounds in the first half for the Spurs, who limited the Lakers to 15 and got plenty of second-chance points.

Wrong number: Two, points scored in the first half by the Lakers’ bench, which was outscored single-handedly by Ginobili, who had 14 points on five-of-seven shooting.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 11, O’Neal 6; Spurs -- Parker and Ginobili 8, Duncan and Nesterovic 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- Bryant 2; Spurs -- Duncan 7, Nesterovic 3, Ginobili 2.

*

THIRD QUARTER

SAN ANTONIO 69 LAKERS 74

Highlight reel: Any time O’Neal gets on a roll shooting free throws it’s a special occasion, and the Laker center gave fans plenty to cheer about with one of his best stretches from the line. O’Neal not only made four of five free throws, but he also was an active force around the basket in making five of seven field goals in a 14-point quarter.

Not in the box score: Devean George caught the wrath of Payton when he failed to get the ball inbounds for a five-second violation. O’Neal had three momentum-changing dunks.

Winning number: 23, the combined points in the quarter by O’Neal and Bryant, who took over the game with their relentless play on both ends of the floor. Heading into the fourth quarter, Bryant (27) and O’Neal (26) had combined for 53 of the Lakers’ 74 points.

Wrong number: 15, shots missed by the Spurs in 20 attempts in a 16-point quarter.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 14, Bryant 9, Malone 4; Spurs -- Duncan 6, Nesterovic 4, Parker and Ginobili 3.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 7, Malone 3; Spurs -- Ginobili 2.

*

FOURTH QUARTER

SAN ANTONIO 90 LAKERS 98

Highlight reel: You have to give Bryant credit for the level of difficulty on some of his scoring baskets. One of his best came early in the quarter when from the right corner, Bryant drove the Spurs’ Bowen underneath the rim and then threw in a two-hand scoop shot over his head that hit nothing but net. San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich just shook his head in amazement.

Not in the box score: The hustle play made by former Laker Robert Horry, who after missing a three-point shot from the left corner, ran back on defense to prevent an uncontested dunk by Malone. Horry fouled Malone on the play, but the veteran power forward made only one of two free throws.

Winning number: 42, the points in the game scored by Bryant, who took over the second half with a variety of baskets against the Spurs’ shaky halfcourt defense.

Wrong number: 2, the points in the game scored by Bowen, who had his worst game of the series defending Bryant.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 15, Slava Medvedenko 4. Spurs -- Duncan and Parker 5, Ginobili 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 3, Medvedenko 2; Spurs -- Horry and Turkoglu 3.