GAME 5 REPORT

FIRST QUARTER

Highlight reel: Basketball really is a simple game. Putting the ball in the basket can be difficult, however. Ask the Spurs, whose poor shooting in the fourth quarters of this series was the No. 1 reason they trailed, 3-1, going into Game 5. Of course, there wouldn’t have been a Game 5 if the Lakers hadn’t messed up the second quarter of Game 2 and lost. We would all be at Dodger Stadium watching the home team take on Mo Vaughn and the Mets. At any rate, the Lakers fell into a downward spiral after taking a 2-0 lead because they couldn’t make the shots they were making in San Antonio.

Not in the box score: A valid reason for the Lakers’ lackluster start. Staples Center crackled with excitement from the fans, who were ready to be done with the Spurs and looking forward to thumping the Sacramento Kings in the conference finals. The Spurs had other ideas, however, giving the Lakers pause. The Spurs showed they weren’t demoralized by their Game 4 fade.

Winning number: The Spurs’ 56.3% shooting.

Wrong number: The Lakers’ 35% shooting.

Leading scorers: Lakers--Rick Fox 7; Spurs--Tim Duncan 9, Bruce Bowen 6.

Leading rebounders: Lakers--Kobe Bryant 4, Robert Horry and Shaquille O’Neal 1; Spurs--Duncan 6, Malik Rose 2.

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SECOND QUARTER

Highlight reel: Despite chants of “MVP, MVP” each time O’Neal stepped to the free-throw line, it’s Duncan’s world in the second quarter. Everyone else is merely along for the ride. He outscored O’Neal, 13-11, and took 10 rebounds to O’Neal’s one. That’s better than a good many players will average in their careers. In the quarter, Duncan made three of five shots and seven of eight free throws. It also begged the question: Did Duncan hit his peak efficiency too early? The Spurs owed their six-point halftime lead to Duncan. Whether he could maintain his superb play for the next two quarters was critical to the Spurs’ survival in the series.

Not in the box score: Horry had no points by halftime, missing the only shot he attempted. Certainly, the Lakers can win without their starting power forward scoring 20 points. Horry is a vital part of their offensive diversity, however. O’Neal and Bryant can’t do it all by themselves all the time.

Winning number: Twenty-one, Duncan’s uniform number.

Wrong numbers: The Lakers missed 11 of 18 shots in the quarter.

Leading scorers: Lakers--O’Neal 11, Bryant 7; Spurs--Duncan 13, Rose and Antonio Daniels 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers--Bryant 4; Spurs--Duncan 10.

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THIRD QUARTER

Highlight reel: The Spurs lost the lead in the quarter, regained it and lost it again. Bryant’s short jumper late put the Lakers ahead by a point entering the final quarter. There was nothing special about the play. It’s one Bryant has made thousands of times, but it proved (again!) the Spurs cannot guard him. With the seconds ticking away, San Antonio’s rookie point guard Tony Parker freed himself and launched a short jumper that missed the mark at the buzzer. The two plays pretty much summed up what has happened in four games plus three quarters of this series. The Lakers have accomplished what they have needed to so far. The Spurs keep coming up short.

Not in the box score: A reason for the Spurs to give up. They’re right with the Lakers (again!). Luck, for lack of a better term, hasn’t been on their side in the series. But they don’t seem ready to pack it in just yet. These aren’t the Trail Blazers and this isn’t the opening round, after all.

Winning numbers: Seven more points and five rebounds for Duncan.

Wrong numbers: The Spurs missed 12 of 18 shots and Duncan picked up his fourth foul.

Leading scorers: Lakers--Bryant 7, Horry and Derek Fisher 5; Spurs--Duncan 7, Danny Ferry 3.

Leading rebounders: Lakers--O’Neal 5, Horry 2; Spurs--Duncan 5, Parker 2.

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FOURTH QUARTER

Highlight reel: Brian Shaw passed to Rick Fox, who was sprinting down the left wing. Fox never hesitated in taking the ball to the basket, scoring against Bowen to give the Lakers an 87-83 lead with 1:27 to play. Tony Parker’s three-pointer was off the mark and Horry made his signature three-pointer at the other end with 56.2 remaining. Didn’t Horry do that to eliminate the Trail Blazers in the last series? Game over. Series over. Bring on the Kings. Game 1 is Saturday at Sacramento.

Not in the box score: What it will mean for the Kings to have home-court advantage in the conference final against the Lakers. Probably not much in the final analysis. Crowds don’t guard opposing players. Or score baskets for the home team. They might get on the visitors’ nerves and make it difficult to hear their coach yelling instructions. But, honestly, when have you seen Phil Jackson get off the bench to say anything to Bryant or O’Neal?

Winning number: Eight, the number of victories the Lakers need to complete their three-peat.

Wrong numbers: Duncan scored only five of his 34 points in the fourth quarter.

Leading scorers: Lakers--Bryant 10, Fox 6; Spurs--Daniels 9, Parker 8.

Leading rebounders: Lakers--O’Neal 4, Shaw and Samaki Walker 2; Spurs--Duncan 4, Bowen 2.