FIRST QUARTER: LAKERS 30, SUPERSONICS 28

* Highlight Reel: A little help, please. Tough enough that Seattle has no one to handle Shaquille O’Neal down low in the half-court offense--not Jim McIlvaine, not Vin Baker, and definitely not Sam Perkins. But how about when O’Neal is leading the Laker break?

* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: O’Neal’s 12th and 13th points of the quarter came after dribbling coast to coast, then scooping a layup off the glass with 2:29 left.

* Winning Number: The Lakers had 27 of their 30 points in the paint.

* Wrong Number: For all their high-flying, the Lakers should have led by more than two.

* Leading Scorers: Lakers--Eddie Jones, O’Neal 13; SuperSonics--Baker 10.

* Leading Rebounders: Lakers--Rick Fox, O’Neal 3; SuperSonics--Baker 5.

SECOND QUARTER: LAKERS 57, SUPERSONICS 55

* Highlight Reel: Jones made two free throws with 5.1 seconds left in the half, then hustled to intercept Detlef Schrempf’s horrible inbounds pass to set up Nick Van Exel’s three-point basket at the buzzer. Instead of leading by at least a point, the SuperSonics trailed by two.

* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: A good bit of blood, sweat and tears by Laker reserve Corie Blount, who seemed to be everywhere a loose ball happened to be during a six-point, five-rebound quarter.

* Winning Number: Baker, McIlvaine and Perkins did not score and Schrempf had six points and Jerome Kersey one.

* Wrong Number: One bad turnover (Schrempf’s) turned the game the Lakers’ way.

* Top Scorers: Lakers--O’Neal 10; SuperSonics--Gary Payton 12.

* Top Rebounders: Lakers--Blount 5; SuperSonics--Kersey 2.

THIRD QUARTER: LAKERS 90, SUPERSONICS 80

* Highlight Reel: Hey, who’s that guy in Hawkins’ uniform? Almost invisible for Games 2 and 3, Hawkins reappeared and started making baskets to start the second half of Game 4. A three-point basket, a jump shot, two free throws, a short jump shot and another three-point basket--all in the first 6:56.

* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: A Seattle lead this quarter. The SuperSonics tied the score, 60-60, on Perkins’ layup, but never led again.

* Winning Number: Threes by Robert Horry and Jones in the final minute of the quarter extended the lead from 84-80 to 90-80.

* Wrong Number: None.

* Top Scorers: Lakers--O’Neal 10; SuperSonics--Hawkins 12.

* Top Rebounders: Lakers--Horry 3; SuperSonics--Payton 5.

FOURTH QUARTER: LAKERS 112, SUPERSONICS 100

* Highlight Reel: Van Exel beat the 24-second clock with a three-point basket, then made another one on the Lakers’ next possession for a 98-83 lead. Game over. Series (almost) over.

* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: A Seattle response for the Laker weapons. No one can check O’Neal inside. No one can stop Jones and Van Exel outside. No one can keep Horry from working in the space between the post and the perimeter.

* Winning Number: The Lakers outscored Seattle, 60-44, in the lane by game’s end.

* Wrong Number: One more Laker victory and it’s, “Good night, Seattle. We love ya.”

* Top Scorers: Lakers--3 with 6; SuperSonics--Schrempf 8.

* Top Rebounders: Lakers--Elden Campbell 3; SuperSonics--Hawkins, Schrempf 3.

CHARTING THE LEAD: A LOOK AT THE LAKERS AND THEIR LEAD OR DEFICIT BY THE MINUTE First Quarter: Lakers’ biggest lead 6; SuperSonics’ biggest lead 2

Second Quarter: Lakers’ biggest lead 5; SuperSonics’ biggest lead 3

Third Quarter: Lakers’ biggest lead 10; SuperSonics did not lead

Fourth Quarter: Lakers’ biggest lead 15; SuperSonics did not lead