CHARTING THE LEAD: A look at the Lakers’ lead or deficit by the minute

Highlight Reel: Shaquille O’Neal missed an easy layup but got the rebound and slammed home a vicious right-hand dunk over Tim Duncan.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Players on the Laker bench standing up with arms raised even before Glen Rice, who had just made two consecutive jump shots, let go of a three-point shot, which he made.

Winning Number: Actually, one and seven. In taking a commanding first-quarter lead, the Lakers held the Spurs to one-for-seven shooting to start the game.

Wrong Number: 3.6. Former Laker Jerome Kersey sat on the bench for most of the quarter but entered with 3.6 seconds remaining and made a running three-point basket to give the Spurs a lift.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Rice, 9; Spurs: Duncan 8.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 7; Spurs: Duncan 3.

SECOND QUARTER

Highlight Reel: In helping the Spurs rally to take the halftime lead, Duncan worked over J.R. Reid the entire quarter with an assortment of moves in the post, from a scoop shot from the middle of the key to a right-hand sky dunk from the right wing.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The bad words by San Antonio’s David Robinson after he was whistled for his third foul midway into the quarter, forcing him to watch the rest of the half from the bench.

Winning Number: Three. After watching a huge first-quarter lead turn into a second-quarter deficit, the Lakers caught a break when Mario Elie, the Spurs’ top defender, was forced to leave the game with three fouls.

Wrong Number: 6:30. The amount of time the Lakers needed to score their first basket of the quarter--a jump shot from the free-throw line by Derek Fisher.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 6; Spurs: Duncan 8.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 5; Spurs: Will Perdue 5.

THIRD QUARTER

Highlight Reel: Tired of being a rather large punching bag for the Spurs, O’Neal turned the tables when he delivered a hard two-hand flagrant foul to the head of Duncan for his fourth foul.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The lowered heads of the Lakers when backup center Sean Rooks fumbled a pass and then missed an easy layup to close the quarter.

Winning Number: Six. The points that O’Neal scored in the quarter to at least keep the Lakers within striking distance.

Wrong Number: One. After making his first three shots, Rice all but was off-target in the second half, and made only one field goal in the third quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 6; Spurs: Duncan 7.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Rice, O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Derek Harper tied with 2; Spurs: David Robinson 4.

FOURTH QUARTER

Highlight Reel: Bryant made a steal and finished his one-man fastbreak with a 360-degree one-hand dunk to silence the Alamodome crowd.

It’s Not in the Box Score: With the Lakers in desperate need of a big play to spark a comeback, Bryant led a fastbreak but didn’t pass ahead to Rick Fox, and instead was forced into a turnover.

Winning Number: Eight. The amount of unanswered points by the Lakers to bring them back late into the game. Bryant, O’Neal and Rice got all of the points.

Wrong Number: Two. The amount of points the Lakers received from their reserves, with Rooks scoring the only basket with a bank shot at the start of the quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant 9; Spurs: Robinson 7.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Reid, Bryant, Fisher tied with 2; Spurs: Elie 5.