Unmistakably, Team Becomes Dominant Again

The Lakers continued their slide, losing their first game in February, 105-81, to San Antonio. Then the sleeping giant awoke. They didn’t lose again in the month, reeling off 12 consecutive victories, including a sweep of a tough six-game trip to Chicago, Charlotte, Orlando, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Cleveland. They even finished off the month with a big victory over Portland at the Rose Garden.

Game of the month: The game against Portland was hyped as the battle for Western Conference supremacy. Both teams came into the game with 11-game win streaks and were tied for the Pacific Division lead. O’Neal scored 23 points, Bryant 22 and Ron Harper made two key free throws down the stretch and the Lakers narrowly won, 90-87. O’Neal was even nine of 13 from the free-throw line.

Who’s hot: Bryant averaged 21 points a game and shot 51% from the field, his highest in any month of the season. He also averaged 6.1 assists, proving that he does know how to pass the ball.

Who’s not: Derek Fisher all but disappeared, shooting an atrocious 30.9% from the field and averaging only 4.5 points. Jackson cut his minutes nearly in half in the ensuing months, preferring to go with Brian Shaw.

Record in month: 12-1.

Quotebook: “This win gives us a leg up on winning the conference and getting home-court advantage in the playoffs. And home-court advantage is the key to winning.” Jackson after the key victory over the Trail Blazers, giving the Lakers the best record in the league and the tiebreak advantage over Portland.

Pacific Division standings:

1. Lakers: 46-11, .807

2. Portland: 45-12, .789

3. Phoenix: 35-21, .625

4. Seattle: 35-23, .603

5. Sacramento: 32-24, .571

6. Golden State: 16-40, .286

7. Clippers: 12-46, .207

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Best record in NBA:

1. Lakers: 46-11, .807

2. Portland: 45-12, .789

3. Indiana: 39-17, .696

4. San Antonio: 37-20, .649

5. Utah: 35-20, .636

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NBA scoring leaders:

1. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers: 30.1

2. Shaquille O’Neal, Lakers: 27.9

3. Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons: 26.4

4. Karl Malone, Utah Jazz: 25.7

5. Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors: 25.3

GAME BY GAME

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Date Score Leading Scorer Record 1 at San Antonio, L, 105-81 O’Neal, 31 34-11 5 Utah, W, 113-67 O’Neal, 25 35-11 7 Denver, W, 106-98 O’Neal, 35 36-11 9 Minnesota, W, 114-81 O’Neal, 37 37-11 15 at Chicago, W, 88-76 O’Neal, 29 38-11 16 at Charlotte, W, 92-85 Bryant, 26 39-11 18 at Orlando, W, 107-99 (OT) O’Neal, 39 40-11 20 at Philadelphia, W, 87-84 O’Neal, 22 41-11 22 at New Jersey, W, 97-89 O’Neal, 35 42-11 23 at Cleveland, W, 116-98 Bryant, 21 43-11 25 Boston, W, 109-96 O’Neal, 28 44-11 27 Houston, W, 101-85 Bryant, 31 45-11 29 at Portland, W, 90-87 O’Neal, 23 46-11

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