FIRST QUARTER

By LONNIE WHITE

June 8, 2000 12 AM PT

Indiana: 18

Lakers: 33

Highlight Reel: If Shaquille O’Neal is going to get the ball as deep as he did for his first basket, the Pacers will have a short stay in the finals. O’Neal got the ball on the left side of the rim, gathered himself and dunked over Dale Davis.

It’s Not in the Box Score: How tight Indiana center Rik Smits looked at the start of the game. His first field-goal attempt, a six-foot hook shot, fell a foot short.

Winning Number: 15. Points scored in the quarter by O’Neal, who was seven of eight from the field and one of two free throws.

Wrong Numbers: Zero, six and zero. The amount of points, field-goal attempts and field goals made in the quarter by Indiana’s Reggie Miller, who was shut down by the Lakers.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 15. Pacers: Mark Jackson 8.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 5. Pacers: Smits 4.

Lakers’ biggest lead was 17

Indiana’s biggest lead was 2

Second Quarter

Indiana: 43

Lakers: 55

Highlight Reel: Laker forward Robert Horry must have thought he was playing beach volleyball the way he spiked a shot by Miller, who continued to struggle without a field goal in the first half.

It’s Not in the Box Score: How Indiana was forced to rely heavily on the scoring of reserves Austin Croshere and Travis Best, who helped keep the score respectable.

Winning Number: 16. The number of assists handed out by the Lakers in the first half. Kobe Bryant and Ron Harper had four each, and nine players had at least one.

Wrong Numbers: Zero, seven, zero. The total points, field-goal attempts and field goals made by Miller in the first half as he played 21 scoreless minutes.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 6. Pacers: Croshere 9.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Horry 3. Pacers: Croshere 4.

Lakers’ biggest lead was 17

Indiana did not lead

Third Quarter

Indiana: 71

Lakers: 77

Highlight Reel: Jackson gave the Lakers a taste of New York City playground basketball when, from the top of the key, he spun around and made a circle drop pass to Smits, who finished the fastbreak with a one-hand dunk.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Despite being down by double figures much of the first three quarters, the Pacers’ body language was still positive and their confidence grew with each defensive stop.

Winning Number: 16. Points accounted for in the quarter by Jackson, who exploited Bryant’s defense for 10 points and three assists.

Wrong Numbers: Zero, three and zero. The total amount of points, field-goal attempts and field goals made in the quarter by Jalen Rose, who didn’t seem to be in the flow of the game after halftime.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 10. Pacers: Jackson 10.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 7. Pacers: Davis 4.

Lakers’ biggest lead was 15

Indiana did not lead

Fourth Quarter

Indiana: 87

Lakers: 104

Highlight Reel: O’Neal finished the game like he started by dominating play under the basket. Time and time again, O’Neal pounded Indiana’s big men and he capped his night with an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Brian Shaw.

It’s Not in the Box Score: How the Lakers looked like a team that never felt threatened by the cold-shooting Pacers, who had to play uphill the entire game.

Winning Numbers: 21 and 31. The field goals made and attempted in the game by O’Neal, who demonstrated why he was the league’s most valuable player during the regular season.

Wrong Number: Zero. The combined points in the quarter from Miller, Jackson and Smits.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 12. Pacers: Croshere 5.

Leading Rebounders:Lakers: O’Neal 5. Pacers: Derrick McKey and Croshere each with 2.

Lakers’ biggest lead was 19

Indiana did not lead

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

LAKERS’ BIG 3

O’NEAL

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Wed. Playoffs 43 Points 29.0 19 Rebounds 15.2 4 Assists 3.4

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BRYANT