Dreamlike Game Makes Harper Smile

When was the last time 36-year-old Ron Harper found his way to six offensive rebounds in a single game?

“In my dreams,” Harper said with a chuckle after doing exactly that, and grabbing nine altogether, including a flying two-handed put-back slam dunk, in the Lakers’ Game 1 victory over Sacramento on Sunday.

“Believe me. . . . Six offensive boards? Probably when I was in the eighth grade, I think.”

With the King defense properly obsessed with Shaquille O’Neal, Harper and A.C. Green snuck inside for key rebounds, grabbing seven offensive rebounds combined in the first quarter.

“We’ve got guys who can shoot the basketball,” Harper said. “I can tell when anybody’s going to fire the basketball. I can see their face and it’s my job to find a way, so I’m just getting down there.”

Said Green on the offensive rebounding, which helped the Lakers to a 54-37 overall advantage: “That kills a team. You play so hard on defense to make a stop and the next thing you know someone gets a tip-in or gets possession.”

Green, who had six rebounds, and Robert Horry, who made back-to-back three-pointers in the second quarter when Chris Webber stayed down low on defense, helped offset Webber’s 28-point performance at the spot the Lakers were considered weakest.