FIRST QUARTER

Lakers: 18

Phoenix: 28

Highlight Reel: Behind the speedy legs of Jason Kidd, Phoenix came out running and the Lakers didn’t know what hit them. Kidd rocked America West Arena with an alley-oop assist to Penny Hardaway, who turned Kidd’s off-target pass into a nifty layup.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Shaquille O’Neal made only one of six field goals in the quarter, with most of his misses within an arm’s length of the rim.

Winning Number: Four. The total free throws made in the quarter by O’Neal, who bounced back from two poor free-throw shooting games to miss only one attempt.

Wrong Number: Three. Points scored in the quarter by Glen Rice, who made only one of five field-goal attempts. The Lakers needed Rice’s offense with Kobe Bryant and O’Neal getting double-teamed nearly every time they touched the ball.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 6. Suns: Hardaway 8.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 5. Suns: Shawn Marion and Cliff Robinson each with 3.

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Lakers’ biggest lead was 2

Phoenix’s biggest lead was 12

Second Quarter

Lakers: 52

Phoenix: 50

Highlight Reel: Sometimes Bryant makes spectacular plays and other times he makes highlight plays with his sound fundamentals. Bryant chose the latter when he beat Kidd off the dribble but missed a layup only to score off his own rebound.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Robinson has a reputation for disappearing in the playoffs, but he displayed some toughness when he suffered a bad finger injury, yet came back minutes later after getting his hand taped.

Winning Number: 14. The combined total of points scored in the quarter by reserve forwards Rick Fox and Robert Horry, who stepped up big and combined for four three-point baskets.

Wrong Number: Zero. The number of points scored in the quarter by Luc Longley, who has been a no-show against O’Neal most of the series.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 10. Suns: Robinson 7.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 3. Suns: Kidd and Robinson each with 2.

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Lakers’ biggest lead was 5

Phoenix’s biggest lead was 10

Third Quarter

Lakers: 75

Phoenix: 76

Highlight Reel: O’Neal called himself “The Big Baryshnikov” and he gave a taste of his nimbleness with a running hook shot over Longley with the 24-second shot clock running down that would get a “10” in difficulty.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Sooner or later someone had to mention Kidd’s new blond hairstyle, which may not look as bad as Dennis Rodman’s but Kidd’s is still a little suspect.

Winning Number: Eight. The total amount of points scored in the quarter by Longley, who has not contributed much in the series but woke up from his slumber to score from the perimeter against a reluctant O’Neal.

Wrong Number: Zero. The total points scored in the quarter by Rice, who took two shots from the field and missed both as he struggled to get into the flow of the Lakers’ offense.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 10. Suns: Longley 8.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 3. Suns: Hardaway 5.

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Lakers’ biggest lead was 4

Phoenix’s biggest lead was 9

Fourth Quarter

Lakers: 105

Phoenix: 99

Highlight Reel: Bryant undressed Hardaway with a dribble between his legs, then breezed around Rodney Rogers and completed the play with an acrobatic layup that turned into a three-point play after a foul on Hardaway.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Everyone knows O’Neal is the Lakers’ leading scorer mainly because he is the team’s focal point on offense, but he also does a lot of little things for his points, such as when he tipped in a missed Ron Harper free throw for a key basket.

Winning Number: 21. The total combined points scored in the quarter by O’Neal and Bryant, who teamed up to take over the Lakers’ offense down the stretch.

Wrong Numbers: Zero. Points scored in the quarter by Kidd, who missed his final seven shots.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 11. Suns: Hardaway 11.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 6. Suns: Rogers 5.

Lakers’ biggest lead was 6

Phoenix’s biggest lead was 5

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

SUNS’ BIG 3

HARDAWAY

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Fri. Series 31 Points 27.7 4 Rebounds 4.0 8 Assists 6.7

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KIDD

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Fri. Series 4 Points 6.7 6 Rebounds 7.0 12 Assists 8.3

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ROBINSON

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Fri. Series 23 Points 22.0 9 Rebounds 5.3 0 Assists 0.7

LAKERS’ BIG 3

O’NEAL

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Fri. Series 37 Points 37.3 17 Rebounds 17.0 3 Assists 2.3

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BRYANT

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Fri. Series 25 Points 21.7 5 Rebounds 5.0 2 Assists 3.0

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RICE

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Fri. Series 10 Points 10.0 6 Rebounds 4.3 1 Assists 1.7

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