Another Rout Puts Kings on Brink

The Lakers, notorious for their lack of killer instinct, didn’t fool around in Game 2.

With the Kings focused on stopping Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his career-playoff-high 32 points in the first half and the Lakers took a 2-0 series lead with a 113-89 rout at Staples Center.

O’Neal, who had 23 points and 19 rebounds, and the rest of the Laker defenders choked off the lanes and frustrated the Kings’ shooters, especially Chris Webber, who made only eight of 28 shots.

Point guard Jason Williams, the other key King, was held to nine points and one assist.

Bryant showcased some of his more creative magic against the Kings, including a fake behind-the-back pass and layup and a fall-away, 35-foot three-point basket.

The Lakers came out blistering hot, running up 18 points in the first six minutes.

Bryant finished the quarter with consecutive three-point baskets, climaxed by a 35-footer at the shot-clock buzzer. That gave him 15 points in the quarter, which ended with the Lakers ahead, 35-24.

The Kings closed the lead to 40-38 with 7:28 to play. But the Lakers countered with a 16-3 run--limiting the Kings to one-for-12 shooting the rest of the quarter--to take a 56-41 lead.

IN QUOTES

“We had command of this game. But each has a personality of its own. Now we’re going to play one up there, that will be in their home court and that is one of the most difficult places to play.”

PHIL JACKSON,

Laker coach

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“We spent a lot of time talking about Shaq. But we probably should have spent more time talking about Kobe.”

RICK ADELMAN,

King coach

THE SERIES

Lakers lead, 2-0