Charting the Lead: A Look at the Lakers’ Deficit or Lead by the Minute

FIRST QUARTER: LAKERS 29, JAZZ 24

* Highlight Reel: Ladies and gentlemen, the Los Angeles Lakers. Thanks for stopping by, fellas. What took you so long? Bus get a flat tire? Suits not back from the cleaners? At any rate, it was high time you guys got to the Delta Center. Better late than never.

* What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: The hustling, defending, sharp-shooting Lakers who dumped favored Seattle in five games in the last round. The guys who lost to the Jazz by 35 points in Game 1 must have been frauds.

Winning Number: The Lakers’ 50% shooting, which came on the heels of 19% shooting in the first quarter of Game 1.

Wrong Number: Still had no answer for Utah’s Karl Malone, who had 12 points in the quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers--Shaquille O’Neal 11; Jazz--Malone 12.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers--Corie Blount 5; Jazz--Bryon Russell 3.

SECOND QUARTER: LAKERS 50, JAZZ 49

Highlight Reel: Young players such as Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson and Laker Kobe Bryant didn’t invent the crossover dribble move to the hoop. But it sure seems they’re better at it than the old geezers. Witness Bryant’s crossover move and slam dunk that gave the Lakers a 48-43 lead late in the quarter. Faked Utah’s Howard Eisley out of his socks.

What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: Angry, frustrated Lakers. Game 1 was just about in the fridge by halftime. This time, there was sure to be some intrigue in the second half.

Winning Number: A one-point halftime lead for the Lakers.

Wrong Number: The Jazz missed its first seven shots of the quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers--Nick Van Exel 9; Jazz--John Stockton 14.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers--Blount 4; Jazz--Malone 5.

THIRD QUARTER: LAKERS 71, JAZZ 70

Highlight Reel: Spectacular is the only word to describe Eddie Jones’ bank shot off the glass while driving into the lane, which gave the Lakers a 64-59 lead. Michael Jordan couldn’t have done better. Jordan would have probably gotten the hacking call against Utah motormouth Greg Foster, though. Jones doesn’t have the rep with the refs yet.

What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: Someone to neutralize Malone, who is too good for the Laker big men. He’s too quick for a big center to guard and too big for a quick forward.

Winning Number: Jones’ 10 points in the quarter.

Wrong Number: The Jazz outscored the Lakers, 7-2, to end the quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers--Jones 10; Jazz--Malone 9.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers--Jones 3; Jazz--Stockton, Foster 2.

FOURTH QUARTER: JAZZ 99, LAKERS 95

Highlight Reel: The Lakers moved the ball quickly up court, trailing by two late in the game. Suddenly, a whistle. Foul on Blount for running over Stockton while setting a pick with 2:36 left, stopping the Lakers’ momentum.

What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: A cure for the Lakers’ Utah Blues. That’s four consecutive playoff losses against the Jazz.

Winning Number: Utah’s 13-2 run to start the quarter changed the course of the game. Add a 7-2 run at the end of the third quarter and Utah’s streak was 20-4.

Wrong Number: Robert Horry’s first point came on a free throw midway through the quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers--Jones, 9; Jazz--Malone, 9.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers--Jones, Rick Fox, 3; Jazz--Russell, 3.

Charting the Lead: A Look at the Lakers’ Deficit or Lead by the Minute

FIRST QUARTER: Lakers’ biggest lead 9; Jazz’ biggest lead 4

SECOND QUARTER: Lakers’ biggest lead 9; Jazz did not lead

THIRD QUARTER: Lakers’ biggest lead 8; Jazz did not lead

FOURTH QUARTER: Lakers’ biggest lead 3; Jazz’ bigest lead 9