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Minus Shaq, Lakers Go Belly Up

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

What’s a Laker low-post offense without the post?

Low.

Low scoring. Low shooting percentage. Low energy. Very low. Grindingly, grumpily, almost record-settingly low.

Shaquille O’Neal missed the game because of a sore muscle in his stomach and groin, and the Lakers missed two of every three shots Thursday night, wheezing to the end of their three-game trip with an 86-75 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves before 19,006 at Target Center.

“I was disappointed,” said O’Neal, who is scheduled to be examined by his stomach specialist today in L.A. but said he thinks he will be able to play Sunday against Indiana.

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“Only two or three of the guys looked like they played hard.”

This was the Lakers’ fifth game in seven days, and fourth in five days, and the players were noticeably staggered by the Timberwolves’ energy.

Even if they had the will, they sure didn’t have the “J.”

The offense turned into a standstill affair, and shot after shot clanged and clanked off the rim to the Timberwolves, who eagerly raced back upcourt for scores and collected their first victory over the Lakers in two seasons.

Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 21 points, and Sam Mitchell came off the bench to score 20 points--14 in the second half.

“As much as we were standing around tonight, I could’ve seen a whole episode of ‘Tele-Tubbies,’ ” said guard Eddie Jones, who took only eight shots, made only two of them, and didn’t touch the ball for most of the fourth quarter.

“You noticed that, huh?” Jones said, shaking his head.

If not for a late burst by rookies Tyronn Lue, Ruben Patterson and Sam Jacobson in garbage time, the Lakers easily would have broken the franchise record for fewest points in a game.

As it was, the Lakers made only 25 of 75 shots (33.3%) and missed the franchise low point by only a single one.

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Laker Coach Del Harris, saying he wasn’t trying to make excuses, pointed out that his players naturally were out of gas at the end of such a grueling run.

“Our guys showed fatigue I thought tonight,” Harris said.

His players said they didn’t want to accept the excuse offered for them.

“That tired story, man, I don’t buy it,” point guard Derek Harper said. “You have to find a way to play despite the fatigue if you have your eyes on the big prize.

“We all had to step up without Shaq tonight, and nobody did. If you don’t have anybody step up, you’re going to go down.”

The Timberwolves made only 43% of their shots, but once they took the lead for good in the third quarter, 48-47, they all but put it away with a 12-2 run.

After the game, O’Neal said he didn’t believe the injury to his right side was serious (the injury that sidelined him for 21 games last season was to the left side of his abdomen).

“No, I’m not worried,” said O’Neal, who tweaked the muscle in the second quarter of Wednesday’s game in Denver.

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“I was kind of sore, and I didn’t want to push it. My coach was gracious enough to give me a couple days off, see if I can come back on Sunday.”

O’Neal said he was more frustrated by watching the Laker shooters throw up poor percentage shot after shot, go one-on-one and basically play right into the Timberwolves’ hands.

Harris said that too many times a single player would try to put the whole offense on his shoulders and force difficult shots that turned into easy Minnesota baskets.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers (3-2) with 24 points (nobody else even was in double digits) and had his fifth straight 10-rebound outing, but also made only eight of 21 shots.

Robert Horry was zero for five; Elden Campbell, subbing for O’Neal, was two for 10 and scored only five points in 34 minutes; and Rick Fox was one for seven. Combined, those three scored 10 points.

“I don’t know much about shooting,” O’Neal said, “but if I was shooting and my fall-away wasn’t falling, I’d go away from the fall-away and go to the basket. Our guys didn’t do that.”

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Jacobson, a Minnesota product playing with his college coach, Clem Haskins, and his governor, Jesse Ventura, looking on, drew the loudest ovation of the night when he checked into the game with 2:49 left and the Lakers down, 81-67.

“Our best shooter got a standing ovation at the end,” O’Neal said, “and that’s Sam Jacobson.”

The other Lakers, meanwhile, are just waiting for the post to return to their low-post game.

“This better be the only game he sits out,” Bryant said with a smile before the game about O’Neal. “Or I’ll kick his butt.”

* NO. 1 START: Top pick Michael Olowokandi will get his first start Saturday when the Clippers travel to face the Phoenix Suns. Page 9

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Missing Out

Shaquille O’Neal missed Tursday’s game and his status is uncertain. Games he has missed by season:

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SEASON TEAM GAMES 1992-93 Orlando 1 1993-94 Orlando 2 1994-95 Orlando 3 1995-96 Orlando 28 1996-97 Lakers 31 1997-98 Lakers 22

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