FIRST QUARTER

By BILL DWYRE

May 17, 2000 12 AM PT

Lakers: 21

Phoenix: 14

Highlight Reel:The Suns’ Jason Kidd ran his team’s offense beautifully, except for one thing. He kept creating open shot opportunities for Luc Longley, for whom the basketball term “brick” was created.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The Lakers managed one cold spell of nine misses in 10 shots, but the Suns, apparently building around Bull’s-Eye Longley, took no advantage.

Winning Number: Seven. Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice each had that many points, meaning neither missed an extra point kick.

Wrong Number: Zero. Number of assists for Kidd, despite hitting Longley in the hands for wide-open shots at least four times.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant and Rice 7. Suns: Cliff Robinson 5.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Shaquille O’Neal 6. Suns: Luc Longley 3 (but then he gave it back to Kidd, who gave it back to him, who--well, you know the rest).

Lakers’ biggest lead was 8

Phoenix’s biggest lead was 2

Second Quarter

Lakers: 49

Phoenix: 23

Highlight Reel:The standing ovations started at the 1:25 mark of the period, as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal exited for a short rest. Earlier in the period, the scoreboard decibel meter got up over 700, which decibel-meter-readers would tell you is pretty high. The only noise from the Suns was a gagging sound.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The Suns went 5:11 without a point, en route to their playoff-record low points in a half, 23. Whispers in the crowd at halftime were that Luc Longley would get hot soon.

Winning Number: Thirteen. Number of rebounds O’Neal had at the half.

Wrong Number: Twenty-nine. The number of shots the Suns missed in the first half, in 37 attempts. That was a percentage of 21.6. And Longley didn’t even shoot in the second quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant and Rick Fox with 6 each. Suns: Rodney Rogers 4.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 7. Suns: Shawn Marion 4.

Lakers’ biggest lead was 26

Phoenix did not lead

Third Quarter

Lakers: 68

Phoenix: 40

Highlight Reel:The Suns’ Rodney Rogers turned on the right baseline, jumped up and back and made an incredible rainbow jump shot, slashing the Lakers’ lead to 24 points. The next time down, Rogers, looking to pass, fed the ball behind a breaking Todd Day that was fielded cleanly by a photographer.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The period ended when Shaquille O’Neal was whistled with a technical foul and Jason Kidd went to the free throw line. The Lakers, up by 28 at the end of the quarter, actually argued the call.

Winning Number: Zero. Number of fastbreak points in the period by the Lakers, who obviously needed exactly that many.

Wrong Number: 2.2%. The increase in shooting efficiency by the Suns from halftime to the end of the third period: From 21.6% to 23.8%.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 6. Suns: Penny Hardaway (remember him?) 4.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 8. Suns: Kidd and Longley, 3 each.

Lakers’ biggest lead was 29

Phoenix did not lead

Fourth Quarter

Lakers: 87

Phoenix: 65

Highlight Reel:An entire quarter of garbage time. The Toby Bailey-Devean George matchup was special. The 2,000 or so left in the seats were divided as to who got the best of it. Also special was the seven-point, 11-rebound spree by Laker veteran John Salley, who did it on his 36th birthday.

It’s Not in the Box Score: With the score 86-60, a timeout called, the Laker Girls dancing and prancing in shiny gold and the place rocking to “I Love LA,” Sun Coach Scott Skiles actually drew a play.

Winning Number: Two. Number of series Lakers have won, with Portland on the horizon.

Wrong Number: Zero. Number of points Penny Hardaway scored in final period. Also number of runs Suns made on Lakers in game.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Salley 7. Suns: Todd Day 8.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Salley 11. Suns: Entire team had 7. (Enough said).

Lakers’ biggest lead was 31

Phoenix did not lead

SUNS’ BIG 3

HARDAWAY

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Tue. Series 8 Points 21.4 3 Rebounds 3.6 2 Assists 5.6

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KIDD