GAME 2 REPORT

FIRST QUARTER: PORTLAND 22, LAKERS 23

Highlight Reel: Just as he did in Game 1, Scottie Pippen had a dominant opening quarter with a couple of spectacular plays. His best may have been when he beat Glen Rice off the dribble for a vicious power dunk.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Shaquille O’Neal looked a little out of sync early, but he started to get into the flow of the game and made a couple of nice passes out of a double-team, but still didn’t get his first basket--on a dunk--until 29 seconds remained.

Winning Number: Six. The total scored by veteran forward A.C. Green, who doesn’t look to shoot often but when he does, his scoring gives the Lakers a boost.

Wrong Number: Two. The total points, rebounds and fouls picked up by Portland center Arvydas Sabonis who played only four minutes in the quarter.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Ron Harper 7. Trail Blazers: Pippen 8.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 6. Trail Blazers: Steve Smith 4.

SECOND QUARTER: PORTLAND 48, LAKERS 45

Highlight Reel: Bonzi Wells has plenty of offensive skills, and he put on a show with a nifty drive for a three-point play on which he lured O’Neal into his third foul of the game.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Ageless John Salley hasn’t played too many first-half minutes this season, but the veteran got in to play some power forward after both Robert Horry and Green picked up two fouls.

Winning Number: Four. The number of three-point shots made by the Lakers in the first half.

Wrong Number: 11. Wasn’t Portland supposed to be the team willing to foul to keep the score close? But this is the number of fouls called on the Lakers in the quarter, compared with the Trail Blazers’ five.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Kobe Bryant 6. Trail Blazers: Pippen 9.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Horry 3. Trail Blazers: Wells 4.

THIRD QUARTER: PORTLAND 76, LAKERS 53

Highlight Reel: If anyone needed to know why O’Neal was frustrated, one play summed it up best when he tried to make a move to the basket and was fouled by three Portland players at the same time.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The intensity and confidence the Trail Blazers played with throughout the quarter once Greg Anthony replaced Damon Stoudamire at point guard.

Winning Numbers: Two and 15. The amount of fouls picked up by Stoudamire in that many seconds of the quarter, sending him to the bench with four overall.

Wrong Number: Eight. The total points scored in the quarter by the Lakers, who struggled against the Trail Blazers’ trapping half-court defense.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Brian Shaw and O’Neal with 3 each. Trail Blazers: Rasheed Wallace and Smith with 11 each.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal and Green with 2 each. Trail Blazers: Pippen and Wallace with 5 each.

FOURTH QUARTER: PORTLAND 106, LAKERS 77

Highlight Reel: After finally getting tired of Portland’s strong-arm tactics, O’Neal scored on a dunk with his first shot and made four of his next five. Problem was, when O’Neal made a hook shot with 6:42 left, the Lakers were still trailing by 20 points.

It’s Not in the Box Score: How Laker Coach Phil Jackson sat calmly with his legs crossed while his team attempted to rally from a 22-point deficit and how Portland Coach Mike Dunleavy worked the sideline like Bob Knight.

Winning Number: 14. The points scored in the quarter by O’Neal, who didn’t get too much help from his teammates on either end.

Wrong Number: Zero. The number of minutes played in the quarter by Rice, who finished with six points in the game.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 14. Trail Blazers: Wells 8.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 3. Trail Blazers: Pippen 4.