Rice Finds His Groove in the Triangle Offense

Forward Glen Rice is on the best, most consistent run of his Laker tenure, averaging 20.2 points over the last six games and looking much more comfortable finding the openings provided by the triangle offense.

Rice, who was pivotal in victories against Charlotte and Seattle and was the brightest part of the loss at Indiana, has scored 17 points or more in the last six games.

By comparison, in the Lakers’ first 32 games, Rice’s longest 17-points-or-better streak was three games.

“I think Glen now is much more at ease than he was in the beginning,” said Laker assistant coach Jim Cleamons. “I think the Seattle game [on Jan. 8, in which Rice scored 24 points to trigger a big comeback] was a breakthrough game for him.

“Being down at half and him being the key in what we did in that third quarter, I think he’s starting to see that hey, initially I wasn’t getting shots. But now I think he’s starting to figure out how to get shots.

“I think [Ron Harper] is also helping him because he knows we need that third scorer in there. So, in times where there’s a question mark, I think Harp is looking for Glen, showing Glen that he’s got confidence in him, and I think that confidence is being rewarded.”

TODAY

vs. Seattle

12:30, Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 32-6; SuperSonics 24-13.

* Record vs. SuperSonics--2-0.

* Update--The SuperSonics are hot again, having won four in a row--including a 91-85 victory over San Antonio on Friday--after a 2-6 stumble in late December and early January. On Jan. 8 at Seattle, the SuperSonics had a 19-point lead over the Lakers in the third quarter, but collapsed, and lost, 110-100.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232.