They Wouldn’t Mind if Horry Found Range

Robert Horry, whose game comes and goes with little warning, could be a factor in the conference finals. After making one of his first 10 three-point shots in the playoffs, he made four of eight three-pointers against Sacramento, including two of three in Game 4.

The Lakers are desperately seeking a perimeter game against San Antonio. It will fall partly to Horry, who made seven of eight three-pointers in the Alamodome in the regular season.

“We know that [Tim] Duncan and [David] Robinson are not going to come out and guard him,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said. “If he’s active and aggressive with his three-point shot, we’re going to be potent and we’re going to be a threat for him.”

The Lakers made only 29.8% of their three-pointers against Sacramento. Rick Fox was one for 10, Derek Fisher was five for 14, Kobe Bryant was one for five and Brian Shaw two for six.

Horace Grant, who is shooting 51.1% in the playoffs, said he’ll have to make his signature mid-range shots.

“I’ve got to stay out at 17, 18 feet and make that jump shot,” he said, “so they can’t sag in on Shaq [O’Neal].

“I’m not going to go out and look for my shot. That would take away from my focus on defense. The shot’s going to be there. I’ve just got to make it.”

The Lakers aren’t too caught up in whether Derek Anderson, who has an injured shoulder, plays or not. After all, Anderson guarded Bryant during the regular season, and Bryant averaged 37.7 points against the Spurs.

“I think it’s a big loss as far as having a perimeter slasher that can create opportunities when the offense breaks down,” Bryant said. “But they seem to be doing pretty well without him.”

REGULAR-SEASON GAMES

SPURS 91, LAKERS 81, Nov. 8, 2000, Alamodome--Shaquille O’Neal was five for 13 from the field and three for 10 from the line and afterward said, “That was my fault.” The Lakers lost their sixth consecutive game at the Alamodome, including two playoff defeats. Kobe Bryant shot over Derek Anderson and went around Sean Elliott for 32 points on 31 shots, but the Lakers were outscored, 18-2, to start the second quarter and then didn’t have a free-throw attempt in the second half. Tim Duncan had 22 points and 17 rebounds. J.R. Rider started the unusual day by missing the team bus, then arriving at the arena carrying a note from the manager of the team hotel, explaining Rider did not receive his wake-up call.

LAKERS 109, SPURS 100, Dec. 1, 2000, Staples Center--Despite suffering from flu, Bryant scored 43 points, then a career high, in 44 minutes. Afterward, Horace Grant said, “I haven’t seen anything like it since No. 23 retired.” O’Neal scored 36 points and took 16 rebounds. In foul trouble for most of the game, Duncan scored 24 points. Elliott scored 19 and David Robinson added 16. The Lakers blew all of a 20-point lead early in the second half, when the Spurs turned a 62-42 deficit into a 74-73 lead. Said guard Ron Harper: “It’s a long year. If I got my cash on it, we will see them again.”

LAKERS 101, SPURS 99, Feb. 21, 2001, Alamodome--At the end of a six-game trip and playing without Bryant, who had a sprained ankle, and without Chick Hearn in the second half, seven Lakers scored in double figures for a rare victory at San Antonio. O’Neal led with 22 points. Rick Fox had 17, Rider 16, Robert Horry 13, Grant 12, Brian Shaw 11 and Mike Penberthy 10. Horry scored 10 in the fourth quarter. Said Phil Jackson: “It felt like going into the woods to fight a bear with a club instead of a gun.” The win was their first at the Alamodome in more than two years.

SPURS 93, LAKERS 89, March 9, 2001, Staples Center--The Spurs outscored the Lakers, 10-6, in overtime, splitting the season series. Duncan had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Anderson had 21 points and eight rebounds. Playing with an upset stomach, Bryant made 14 of his last 24 shots and scored 38 points. O’Neal had 33 points and 16 rebounds. In contrast to the balance of the previous game, no other Laker scored as many as 10 points. The Lakers missed all 11 three-point attempts, the first time in two years they went without a three-pointer, and had a season-low 11 assists.

THE STREAK

The Lakers’ 15-game win streak (the last seven games are playoffs):

*--*

April 3 at Utah 96-88 April 5 at Chicago 100-88 April 6 at Boston 100-96 April 8 at Minnesota 104-99 April 10 Phoenix 106-80 April 12 Minnesota 119-102 April 15 Portland 105-100 April 17 Denver 108-91 April 22 Portland 106-93 April 26 Portland 106-88 April 29 at Portland 99-86 May 6 Sacramento 108-105 May 8 Sacramento 96-90 May 11 at Sacramento 103-81 May 13 at Sacramento 119-113

*--*

LONGEST 2000-01 STREAKS

15--LAKERS (current)

11--Minnesota 10--Philadelphia, Portland