Kings even series with Lakers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – After their first road playoff loss in nearly two years, the Los Angeles Lakers finally might have a challenge on their hands. Chris Webber had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Mike Bibby scored 20 points as the Sacramento Kings evened the Western Conference finals 1-1 Monday night, weathering Shaquille O’Neal’s biggest game of the postseason to beat the Lakers 96-90.
The Lakers’ NBA-record streak of 12 consecutive road playoff victories ended in an ugly game in front of another delirious Arco Arena crowd. It was just the third defeat in 27 playoff games for the two-time champions, who hadn’t lost on the road since Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals.
The best-of-seven series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Friday night, with Game 4 on Sunday at Staples Center.
The game wasn’t exactly a classic. Sacramento led 89-74 with 61/2 minutes left, but the Kings managed just one field goal after that. The Lakers gradually rallied despite poor shooting and turnovers by both teams in the closing minutes.
Trailing 92-82, the Lakers scored five straight points, but O’Neal, who had 35 points, missed a free throw, then came up short on an easy hook shot. Los Angeles missed five straight shots in the closing seconds before Kobe Bryant’s 3-pointer with 12.5 seconds left cut the lead to 93-90.
The Lakers eagerly fouled Webber, who missed seven of his first nine free throws on the night. Webber hit one of two, and Rick Fox missed a 3-pointer to seal it.
The Lakers got 22 points on 9-for-21 shooting from Bryant, who received three liters of intravenous fluids in the hours before the game after an overnight bout with food poisoning.
O’Neal manhandled the Kings all night, also finishing with 12 rebounds, but the Lakers never were able to exert their will as they did in Game 1, a 106-99 victory. Supporting players Fox, Derek Fisher, Devean George and Samaki Walker were a combined 9-of-32 from the field.
Robert Horry had eight points and a career playoff-high 20 rebounds before fouling out for the Lakers, who also lost Game 2 of the conference semifinals to San Antonio.
The Kings weren’t allowed to play their preferred run-and-gun style by the Lakers’ defense, but they led throughout the second half and hung on in an unsightly ending.
Vlade Divac had 15 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out against O’Neal. Bobby Jackson added 17 points in a reserve role.
O’Neal scored 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting in the first half, playing with full measures of the brute strength and stunning agility that make him the premier center of his era. He slowed in the second half, but still finished with his biggest production of the postseason.
The Lakers didn’t open Game 2 as splendidly as Game 1, when they made nine straight shots on the way to a big early lead they never relinquished. O’Neal carried Los Angeles through the first half, bulling past capable post defenders Divac and Scot Pollard with the ease that only he can manage.
Bryant didn’t seem restricted because of his illness, but he rested longer than usual in the first half and got just one basket in the second quarter. He also sat out a stretch in the fourth quarter as Sacramento maintained its lead.
All-Star Peja Stojakovic missed his fourth straight game for the Kings because of his sprained ankle. Hedo Turkoglu, who went 0-for-8 in Game 1, missed his first three shots.
He finally hit a jumper with 1:05 left in the first half, sparking a standing ovation from the Arco crowd and a sheepish grin from the Turkish star. Turkoglu finished with eight points, but Jackson was on the court with the Kings’ starters in the final minutes.
Though an 0-2 series deficit heading to Los Angeles would have been daunting, the Kings refused to call the game a must-win. Like the Lakers, they believe they’re a better team on the road, when a hostile crowd and a lack of pressure allows them to play with more freedom.
Sacramento has won all four of its road playoff games this season, and six of eight over the past two seasons. Both of the losses were at Staples Center last season, however.
Only seven teams have recovered from an 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-seven NBA series. Notes:@ Divac opened the game with a jumper that gave Sacramento its first lead of the series. The Lakers led wire-to-wire in Game 1. … Bibby got a technical foul in the first quarter when he spiked the ball on the court in frustration, and it bounced up to hit O’Neal in the head. … O’Neal passed Kevin McHale for 12th place on the NBA’s career playoff scoring list. … Supermodel Tyra Banks, Webber’s girlfriend, was among several celebrities in attendance. Lakers owner Jerry Buss sat on the front row, on the opposite end from Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. … The Kings have lost all five of their previous playoff games at Staples Center.