Lakers vs. Sacramento

FIRST QUARTER

SACRAMENTO: 15

LAKERS: 25

Highlight Reel: Staples Center fans got a chance to cheer when the Lakers’ Brian Shaw led a fastbreak that finished with Shaquille O’Neal dunking despite getting fouled from behind by Sacramento rookie Hidayet Turkoglu. O’Neal continued to be too much for the Kings to handle.

It’s Not in the Box Score: How sloppy the play was for both teams over the first four minutes of the game with Sacramento’s Chris Webber and the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant leading the way with several ill-advised plays.

Winning Numbers: 14 and 11. The total points and rebounds by O’Neal, who single-handedly dominated the Kings.

Wrong Number: 17. Total of missed field-goal attempts by the Kings, who made only 19% of their shots.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 14, Bryant 8. Kings: Webber 6, Vlade Divac 3.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal 11, Bryant 5. Kings: Webber 5, Doug Christie 4.

SECOND QUARTER

SACRAMENTO: 43

LAKERS: 43

Highlight Reel: When the Lakers needed to find their game after a strong Sacramento run, they turned to O’Neal, who drop-stepped and slammed in the face of King backup big man Scot Pollard and then pinned a shot by Christie against the bottom of the backboard.

It’s Not in the Box Score: How quiet Staples Center fans were as the Lakers lost a big lead. No wonder Laker game crowds are rarely considered a problem for visiting teams.

Winning Number: 13. The amount of unanswered points scored by Sacramento to start the quarter as the Kings jumped back into the game.

Wrong Number: Four. Combined points scored by Laker starters Horace Grant, Rick Fox and Derek Fisher.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 8, Horace Grant 6. Kings: Bobby Jackson 8, Webber 6.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal and Bryant 3 each; Grant 2. Kings: Webber and Turkoglu 4 each; Jackson 3.

THIRD QUARTER

SACRAMENTO: 56

LAKERS: 74

Highlight Reel: Fox continued to be the most dominating defensive player on the court and he gave Turkoglu a taste of his physical style when he stripped the King rookie before he could launch a shot and then Fox completed the play when he dived to keep the ball in bounds.

It’s Not in the Box Score: How O’Neal got offensive position so close to the basket that Sacramento big men often looked as if they were wearing the net as a hat, and one time O’Neal even landed on Pollard’s head after a dunk.

Winning Number: Three. Laker turnovers--their lowest quarter in the game, with none resulting in King points.

Wrong Numbers: 13 and five. The amount of points scored and rebounds grabbed by the Kings.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: Bryant 13, O’Neal 9. Kings: Turkoglu 5; Webber and Jackson 4 each.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: O’Neal and Grant 5 each. Kings: Peja Stojakovic and Webber 2 each.

FOURTH QUARTER

SACRAMENTO: 90

LAKERS: 96

Highlight Reel: With the Lakers’ defense basically nonexistent, Stojakovic and Jon Barry finally started to knock down shots for the Kings as they combined for 21 points to help make the final score look respectable.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Laker guard Ron Harper, who had not played in more than two months because of a knee injury, received a standing ovation when he entered with 10:02 left in the game.

Winning Number: Zero. The amount of turnovers committed by the Kings, who had 13 after the first three quarters.

Wrong Number: One. The total combined points scored by the Laker bench, which was outscored by its King counterpart, 32-1, in the game.

Leading Scorers: Lakers: O’Neal 12. Kings: Stojakovic 14, Barry 7.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers: Grant and Robert Horry 3 each. Kings: Webber 7, Pollard 3.