FIRST QUARTER

Highlight Reel: Continuing his streak of making at least one highlight play every quarter, Kobe Bryant sliced through the Kings’ halfcourt defense from right-to-left and finished with a nifty backhand layup.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Laker forward A.C. Green’s all-around game. Not only did Green do a solid job hounding Sacramento’s Chris Webber with his defense, but he showed off his legs with a coast-to-coast layup.

Winning Number: 12. For Sacramento, which has been badly outrebounded in the series, this amount of rebounds is a good start, considering the Lakers had the same number.

Wrong Number: Eight. The number of minutes Shaquille O’Neal played, missing one-third of the quarter because of two fouls.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant 10. Kings: Webber 10.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Green 4. Kings: Webber 6.

Second quarter

Highlight Reel: Webber broke free of Green’s tight defense with his own statement play late in the half. Starting from the left corner, Webber used a hesitation dribble to shake Green, who fouled Webber on a power right-hand dunk from the baseline.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The priceless look on Sacramento Coach Rick Adelman’s face after an off-target, behind-the-back pass by Jason Williams. Fortunately for the Kings, a foul was called on the Lakers before the pass.

Winning Number: Seven points scored by Sacramento reserve shooting guard Predrag Stojakovic, a non-factor in the first two games of the series.

Wrong Number: Four free throws missed by O’Neal in seven attempts.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 9. Kings: Stojakovic 7.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 9. Kings: Vlade Divac 5.

THIRD QUARTER

Highlight Reel: Bryant had a couple of plays to choose from, but his fadeaway jump shot over Sacramento’s Nick Anderson early in the half with the shot clock winding down was textbook material.

It’s Not in the Box Score: O’Neal’s muscle inside. The league’s most dominant player gave Sacramento backup big man Scot Pollard a heavy dose with a stretch of physical play near the basket.

Winning Number: Six. Points scored by Laker small forward Glen Rice after scoring only five in the first half.

Wrong Number: Two points scored by Anderson, matching his total for most of the series. Did the Kings really think they would be a better team when they traded for Anderson last summer?

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Rice and Bryant, 6. Kings: Webber 6.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 5. Kings: Corliss Williamson 3.

FOURTH QUARTER

Highlight Reel: Sacramento fans began to sense a victory after Divac drove past Robert Horry and made a no-look pass around O’Neal to Webber, who finished with an authoritative dunk.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The energy the Kings received when Adelman sent their “Bench Mob” into the game. With guards Tony Delk and Stojakovic making key plays, Sacramento got back into the game.

Winning Number: 14 unanswered points scored by the Kings in their decisive run, which broke open the game early in the quarter.

Wrong Numbers: Two and zero. The total points and rebounds in the quarter from O’Neal, who looked tired and missed shots he normally makes.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant 16. Kings: Stojakovic 10.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Horry 5. Kings: Webber 4.