BULLS 23, LAKERS 26

With starters Nick Van Exel and Robert Horry watching from the sidelines, the Bulls jumped out to a 12-7 lead on the strength of three Michael Jordan jumpers. But the Lakers battled back behind Rick Fox, who made four of five shots in the quarter. The Lakers went on a 15-4 run midway through the quarter that enabled them to pull ahead, 22-16. They never lost the lead again. With the league’s top rebounder in town in Dennis Rodman (15.7 per game), Corie Blount let it be known that rebounding is what the Lakers pay him for as well.

* Lakers’ leading scorers: Fox 9, Eddie Jones 5.

* Lakers’ leading rebounder: Blount 4.

* Other stuff: The Lakers free throw woes continued as they made only two of seven.

* Bulls’ leading scorer: Jordan 12.

* Bulls’ leading rebounder: Rodman 6.

* Other stuff: Bulls outrebounded the Lakers, 14-8, in the quarter.

BULLS 53, LAKERS 57

SECOND QUARTER IN REVIEW

The Lakers threatened to break it open early in the quarter as Fox made two baskets, sandwiched by a Shaquille O’Neal jam following a Kobe Bryant miss as they pulled ahead, 33-25. But the ever-present Jordan and Scottie Pippen kept the Bulls close by getting 17 of the team’s 30 points. O’Neal had his best quarter of the day, scoring 11 points on three-for-four shooting, and an astonishing five for six from the free-throw line, while also grabbing five rebounds.

* Lakers’ leading scorers: O’Neal 11, Fox 5, Bryant 5.

* Lakers’ leading rebounders: Derek Fisher 5, O’Neal 5.

* Other stuff: Lakers outrebounded the Bulls, 14-12. Lakers outscored the Bulls in the paint, 18-10, and 6-2 on fastbreak points.

* Bulls’ leading scorers: Jordan 10, Pippen 7.

* Bulls’ leading rebounders: Rodman 4, Scott Burrell 3.

* Other stuff: Bull reserves Burrell and Randy Brown played well, scoring five and four points, respectively.

BULLS 64, LAKERS 91

THIRD QUARTER IN REVIEW

The game was decided in the first two and half minutes of the quarter as the Lakers outscored the lethargic Bulls, 15-0, behind the excellent floor leadership and hustle of Fisher. By the time the first timeout was called with 6:36 remaining, the Lakers had extended the lead to 76-59 behind three baskets by Jones, and two each by Fox and O’Neal. Jordan and Pippen made only three of 10 shots in the quarter.

* Lakers’ leading scorers: Jones 10, three others with 6.

* Lakers’ leading rebounders: Blount 4, Jones 3.

* Other stuff: The Lakers shot a sizzling 63.6%. Fisher and Blount both had four assists.

* Bulls’ leading scorer: Jordan 7.

* Bulls’ leading rebounder: Rodman 5.

* Other stuff: The Bulls shot a dismal 26% and committed eight turnovers.

BULLS 87, LAKERS 112

FOURTH QUARTER IN REVIEW

Mop-up time. The Lakers cruised to an easy victory as both teams scored 21 in the quarter. The Lakers got great balanced scoring from Fox (25), O’Neal (24), Jones (20) and Bryant (20), but game balls should go to Fisher and Blount. Fisher finished with eight points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals, while Blount countered with seven points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks. Toni Kukoc must be in Bull Coach Phil Jackson’s doghouse. He played nine minutes in the first half, and didn’t play again.

* Lakers’ leading scorers: Bryant 6, Fox 5.

* Lakers’ leading rebounder: Blount 4.

* Other stuff: Lakers finished the game shooting 51.9%, which was only slightly behind their again dismal free-throw performance of 54.3%, but they had only 11 turnovers in the game.

* Bulls’ leading scorers: Burrell 11.

* Bulls’ leading rebounders: Burrell 3.

* Other stuff: The big three, Jordan, Pippen and Rodman didn’t have a good second half. Pippen was held scoreless in the third quarter, Jordan had only two in the final quarter and Rodman didn’t play the fourth quarter. He finished with 15 rebounds, only five in the second half. The tired Bulls shot only 38.4% for the game.