GAME REPORT

First Quarter

San Antonio: 21

Lakers: 34

Highlight Reel: In a quarter in which Shaquille O’Neal scored 15 points and Kobe Bryant 11, Rick Fox was the leading candidate for “SportsCenter.” Early in the period, he blocked a shot by Derek Anderson, plucked the ball out of midair and passed the length of the court to a high-flying Bryant for a basket. Then, to end the period, he followed a Derek Fisher miss with two ticks left on the clock for the 13-point lead.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Bryant spent much of the period dishing off to O’Neal. That’s right, the new share and share-alike Lakers.

Winning Number: Five, the number of assists Bryant had. Brotherhood is discovered at Staples.

Wrong Numbers: Three and zero, the number of shots Spur star Tim Duncan took and the number he made.

Leading Scorers: Lakers, O’Neal 15, Bryant 11; Spurs, David Robinson 11, Terry Porter 5.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers, O’Neal 5, Fox 4; Spurs, Robinson 3.

Second Quarter

San Antonio: 44

Lakers: 54

Highlight Reel: The Fox and Kobe show. The Spurs had cut the Laker lead to 49-44 with 2:59 to go. First, Bryant knifed through three Spurs and outjumped them all for a tip-in of a miss by Fox. Then Fox took a long rebound on the Spurs’ next attack, passed downcourt to Bryant, who found him cutting hard to the basket. Lakers, 53-44.

It’s Not in the Box Score: Tyronn Lue gave the Lakers five minutes of quality time, meaning a fresher Fisher in the second half.

Winning Numbers: Two and two. The number of three-point shots and baskets by Brian Shaw, each a deeper dagger in San Antonio’s heart.

Wrong Number: One-half. The amount of a cookie eaten secretly by one Laker girl, threatening to ruin the group image of team emaciation. Also 3. The number of fouls O’Neal had at halftime.

Leading Scorers: Lakers, Shaw 6, O’Neal and Bryant 5 each; Spurs, Robinson 6, Malik Rose and Duncan 5 each.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers, Robert Horry 4; Spurs, Duncan 8.

Third Quarter

San Antonio: 64

Lakers: 86

Highlight Reel: Perhaps the last dagger in a night of them was midway through the quarter, when O’Neal snapped off a rebound, turned and hit Bryant with a fullcourt pass for 69-56.

It’s Not in the Box Score: The standing ovation the Lakers got in the closing seconds of the quarter, leading, 84-64, after two three-point bombs by Fox and Fisher. Then, never one to shun drama, Bryant dazzled with a reverse layup clock-beater that made the lead an embarrassing 22 points.

Winning Number: Not a number, but actress Cameron Diaz won the decibel cheer-meter for celebrities on the big screen. She had plenty of competition--Ben Stiller, Jack Nicholson, etc. Hey, this isn’t Des Moines.

Wrong Number: Zero. Number of illegal defense calls against the Spurs. Should’ve tried it. Should’ve tried anything.

Leading Scorers: Lakers, O’Neal and Bryant, 9 each; Spurs, Antonio Daniels 8, Robinson 7.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers, O’Neal 6; Spurs, Robinson 7, Duncan 2, rest of team 0.

Fourth Quarter

San Antonio: 72

Lakers: 111

Highlight Reel: The Lakers forcing the Spurs into a 24-second violation. It was a crucial moment because there were still three minutes left and the Laker lead was only 36 points.

It’s Not in the Box Score: An entire quarter of garbage time in an NBA conference final? What in the name of David Stern is this? This never would have happened if Tim Duncan were alive.

Winning Numbers: 35 and 17--Points and rebounds by O’Neal, who needs to be banned from the NBA under the “It Ain’t Fair for the Other Guys” rule. And 36 and 9--points and assists by Bryant, whom they can name the rule after.

Wrong Numbers: Nine and 2--points scored respectively by Duncan and Anderson. Also 8--points scored by the Spurs in the period.

Leading Scorers: Lakers, Bryant 11; Spurs, none worthy of mention.

Leading Rebounders: Lakers, O’Neal and Horry 5 each; Spurs, none worthy of mention.