Fish Report Is Favorable One

Derek Fisher found Nick Van Exel and hugged him Sunday night, because that’s what Fisher does after significant games and against significant foes.

Five months ago, he chased down Allen Iverson before celebrating the NBA title.

In his first game since, after those months spent in tedious recovery from a second foot surgery, Fisher scored 11 fourth-quarter points and the Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 105-98, at Staples Center.

Having nothing but time for this sort of thing, Fisher last week studied film of Iverson to prepare himself for the similarly-skilled Van Exel, and then of Avery Johnson, the other Nugget guard, who played last season for San Antonio.

Ultimately, it was they who were not ready for him.

Fisher made three three-pointers, drew a dramatic charge in a late-game possession with the Lakers ahead by only four points, and chased the elusive Van Exel as well as anyone could. As a result, trailing 92-90, the Lakers scored 11 of the next 15 points to make their record 12-1, matching the franchise’s best-ever start, in 1997.

“I had no plans or expectations. I just went out there and played,” Fisher said. “I’m just glad to come back.”

Kobe Bryant, playing through a cold that kept him from Sunday morning’s shoot-around, scored 25 points and had seven rebounds and seven assists. In 40 minutes, he had one turnover.

Shaquille O’Neal, weakened by a stomach ailment he believed was caused by something he ate, had 22 points. He missed nine of 13 free-throw attempts, and is 22 for 59 since the Phoenix Suns complained to referees about him teetering into the lane, a violation Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban publicly seconded. He made two, however, with less than a minute left and the Nuggets within two points. That, along with a rebound and put-back by Devean George on an O’Neal miss 20 seconds before, aided Fisher’s happy return.

Fisher scored 14 points, and made all four three-point attempts, in 20 minutes in relief of starter Lindsey Hunter. He played the entire fourth quarter.

“Fish has a great ability to visualize the game,” Bryant said, “and then come out and play it.”

A white band on his head and a surgical screw in his foot, Fisher stepped to the floor, to a standing ovation, 12 games and nearly 10 minutes into their season. And, now, his season.

“That was probably the greatest part of the night,” Fisher said of the reception, “other than us winning the game.”

Fisher brought the ball up the floor on the next possession, and the crowd delighted at the sight, the ball off Fisher’s left hand, Johnson off his right elbow. Then Fisher settled in the right corner and looped in a three-pointer that gave the Lakers a 29-20 lead.

“I think Fish is so dedicated to what he does as a player that he’s in a groove,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said. “He’s been shooting for almost a month now and he really is grooving that shot. It’s great to see him have a good night.”

He wasn’t alone. He and Hunter worked to stay with Van Exel, who scored 34 points, some spectacularly. Van Exel brought the undermanned Nuggets back into the game, then kept them in it in the fourth quarter.

Seven minutes into the third quarter, Van Exel pulled up on the right side in that sidesaddle way of his, curled his eyebrow, and made a three-pointer. The Nuggets, humiliated by the Lakers four nights before on their own floor, led, 70-69.

The shot provided two things--first, the lead, and, second, it put the Nuggets over 68 points, their score after 48 minutes Wednesday in Denver.

Denver’s run, from halftime to nine minutes into the second half, was 25-9.

In a 29-16 third quarter, Van Exel scored 13 points and James Posey scored 12.

Together, the guards were nine for 16 from the field, four for seven from behind the arc, while the Lakers missed nine of 15 field-goal attempts.

Then Fisher scored 11 of the Lakers’ 27 fourth-quarter points.

“I told him I started having some flashbacks,” Bryant said. “I’d penetrate and kick it to him and he’d squat into those threes and raise up and shoot it.

“And, it just so happens Samaki [Walker, a San Antonio Spur last season] was in the shower with us, and I said, ‘Samaki had flashbacks, too.’ ... It’s great to have him back.”