In a Strong Start, They Have Strong Finishes

The early tests for the Lakers have not only been the games, but the finishes.

They led the Utah Jazz by only two points early in the fourth quarter of the opener, before turning that into a 17-point victory. They were tied with the Sacramento Kings with 1:53 remaining and went on to win, withstanding a last-second three-point shot that would have forced overtime. And Friday, they led the New York Knicks by a point with 27 seconds left, then again emerged unscathed.

Three games. Three times being down at halftime. Three victories thanks to the fourth-quarter play of the Lakers.

“You really mature as a team by going through pressure situations,” Coach Del Harris said. “To make that next step as you go through the season, you’ve got to be able to do it when there’s extreme heat. It’s always a maturing factor when you are able to face a firing squad and live for another day.”

Harris credits the conditioning that has come with the arrival of Jim Cotta, the new strength and conditioning coach, and “the floor generalship” of the guards.

TONIGHT

vs. Golden State

* 6:30

* Fox Sports

West

Site--Forum.

Radio--KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records--Lakers 3-0, Warriors 0-5.

Record vs. Warriors (1996-97)--4-0.

Update--The Lakers are looking to start 4-0 for the first time since 1987-88, when they opened 8-0 to set a club record. Just after playing the New York Knicks and just before starting what should be a tough three-game Texas trip, they are playing a team that could finish last in the Western Conference. How bad has it been for the Warriors? On the four-game trip to open the season, they trailed by at least 10 points in 94 of the 96 second-half minutes.