Rout of Knicks Comes Before Pre-Playoff Lull

The Lakers coasted into the playoffs, ending the season with consecutive road losses to Dallas and San Antonio. The loss to the Spurs was especially bad, because they were playing without Tim Duncan, who was injured. But you always had the sense the Lakers were conserving their energy for the playoffs. Or as Kobe Bryant put it after the game, “We just wanted to relax and not get injured. Now is the time to get ready for [the playoffs].”

Game of the month: The Lakers hosted New York on April 2 in what was billed as a potential preview of the NBA finals. If that had happened, it wouldn’t have been much of a contest, because O’Neal scored 34 and Bryant 17 and the Lakers took a 58-40 halftime lead en route to a 106-82 rout. The most notable part of the game was Bryant losing his cool and throwing a punch at Chris Childs, but that was after Childs bumped him in the chest and threw two punches of his own.

Who’s hot: O’Neal improved upon his March numbers, averaging 35.6 points a game.

Who’s not: Rice’s decline continued, as his minutes dropped to 30 a game.

Record in month: 6-3.

Quotebook: “I give them credit. They are a championship-caliber team.” Knick Coach Jeff Van Gundy, after blowout loss to Lakers.

Pacific Division standings:

1. Lakers: 67-15, .817

2. Portland: 59-23, .720

3. Phoenix: 53-29, .646

4. Seattle: 45-37, .549

5. Sacramento: 44-38, .537

6. Golden State: 19-63, .232

7. Clippers: 15-67, .183

*

Best record in NBA:

1. Lakers: 67-15, .817

2. Portland: 59-23, .720

3. Indiana: 56-26, .683

4. Utah: 55-27, .671

5. San Antonio: 53-29, .646

5. Phoenix: 53-29, .646

*

NBA scoring leaders:

1. Shaquille O’Neal, Lakers: 29.7

2. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers: 28.4

3. Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons: 25.8

4. Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors: 25.7

5. Karl Malone, Utah Jazz: 25.5

GAME BY GAME

*--*

Date Score Leading Scorer Record 2 New York, W, 106-82 O’Neal, 34 62-12 4 at Phoenix, W, 84-83 O’Neal, 32 63-12 5 at Golden State, W, 111-104 O’Neal, 49 64-12 8 San Antonio, L, 98-80 Bryant, 26 64-13 10 Seattle, W, 106-103 (OT) Bryant, 33 65-13 14 Sacramento, W, 121-114 O’Neal, 41 66-13 16 Minnesota, W, 101-95 O’Neal, 33 67-13 18 at Dallas, L, 112-102 O’Neal, 38 67-14 19 at San Antonio, L, 103-98 (OT) Bryant, 23 67-15

*--*

MONTH BY MONTH

*--*

Month Record Overall Record November 11-4 11-4 December 14-1 25-5 January 9-5 34-10 February 12-1 46-11 March 15-1 61-12 April 8-4* 69-16 May 8-4* 77-20 June 5-3* 82-23

*--*

*-Includes playoffs