Portland Pulls Even to Force Game 7

This heavyweight battle, blessed by stubbornness and haunted by missed opportunities, is going the distance.

Of course. And then . . . somebody will fall.

Because of a failing defense and an offense hurt by wobbly shooting, the Lakers lost another chance to eliminate the Trail Blazers, losing, 103-93, in a Game 6 struggle at the Rose Garden that set up a finale that should have surprised nobody.

So this uneven, exhilarating, unnerving slugfest was elongated two more pregnant days, finally, fatefully, to be decided once and for all Sunday, at Staples Center, in a Game 7 of epic proportions.

In this series, both combatants had teetered near collapse. Both had rallied back to life in brilliant surges.

But the Trail Blazers, who once trailed, 3-1, evened things up with towering performances by Steve Smith (26 points), Arvydas Sabonis (11 rebounds, six assists and huge defense against O’Neal) and Bonzi Wells (20 points).

Portland’s victory ended a four-game span in which the road team had won every game.

The Lakers had lost two consecutive games but had this to bank on: They had not lost three games in a row this season.

O’Neal (17 points) and Bryant (33 points) both played every second, taking the Lakers as far as they could. Reserve Brian Shaw made all four of his three-point shots.

But beyond that, there were not many Lakers to contend with the Portland onslaught.

IN QUOTES

“We just have to lay it all on the line. The fans have to be ready, the city has to be ready, and the players especially have to be ready. We’ll be ready.”

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL,

Laker center

*

“Thank God, we’ve got home-court advantage. In this series it doesn’t seem to mean much. But to us, it seems much.”

KOBE BRYANT,

Laker guard

THE SERIES

Series tied, 3-3