Game 1 Report

FIRST QUARTER

HOUSTON 18 LAKERS 20

Highlight reel: It’s easy to tell when Shaquille O’Neal is ready to play, and he served notice early with a power dunk over Yao Ming. O’Neal began his move from the right block and used a forceful drop step before throwing down a one-handed dunk in the face of the Rocket center.

Not in the box score: How the Rockets were able to keep the score close with several easy transition baskets that came with the Lakers’ big men, Karl Malone and O’Neal, not even having crossed halfcourt on defense.

Winning number: Zero. Fouls called against O’Neal, who was active at both ends of the floor in helping the Lakers score the first eight points of the game.

Wrong number: 5:41. Time remaining in the quarter when Kobe Bryant, who did not attempt a shot, picked up his second foul and was replaced by Kareem Rush.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 10, Gary Payton 7. Rockets -- Jim Jackson, Kelvin Cato, Cuttino Mobley, 4 each.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 6, Malone 3. Rockets -- Jackson 4, Yao 3.

*

SECOND QUARTER

HOUSTON 34 LAKERS 40

Highlight reel: Alley-oop dunks are not easy to execute, but Gary Payton and O’Neal made it look easy on a play that woke up the Staples Center crowd. With veteran point guard Mark Jackson defending him on the left wing, Payton made subtle eye contact with O’Neal, who spun away from Houston’s Clarence Weatherspoon to grab Payton’s perfect setup pass for a dunk.

Not in the box score: The tenacious defense Bryant and Payton played against the Rockets’ streak-shooting guards, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. Bryant had three steals in the quarter, including one from Francis that led to a Laker fastbreak.

Winning number: 11. Rebounds grabbed by the Rockets, who outrebounded the Lakers, 24-17, in the half.

Wrong numbers: Nine and 15. Turnovers committed by the Rockets in the quarter and half, including five by Francis and four by Mobley.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 6, Bryant 5, Payton 4. Rockets -- Francis 5, Yao 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal and Bryant 2. Rockets -- Yao and Mobley 3.

*

THIRD QUARTER

HOUSTON 51 LAKERS 49

Highlight reel: Francis is one of the NBA’s most talented athletes, and he dusted off one of his flashy moves on a creative layup through the Lakers’ halfcourt defense. From the left wing, Francis hopped, skipped and jumped around Laker defenders and finished with a spinning layup over O’Neal in traffic.

Not in the box score: How Laker fans began to chant, “Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!” with 3:22 remaining in the quarter and the Rockets making a run. The crowd picked up the cheer later in the quarter even when Bryant did not have the ball.

Winning number: Four. Turnovers committed by the Rockets in the quarter after having 15 at halftime. By taking better care of the basketball, Houston took a two-point lead into the fourth.

Wrong number: Nine. Points scored by the Lakers in the quarter on four-of-21 shooting from the field, including one of five from behind the three-point arc.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 5. Rockets -- Maurice Taylor 5, Francis 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 4, Malone 3. Rockets -- Cato 5, Jim Jackson 4.

*

FOURTH QUARTER

HOUSTON 71 LAKERS 72

Highlight reel: O’Neal made the play of the game when he snatched Bryant’s desperation airball attempt and dunked over Yao to give the Lakers their final lead. Yao fouled out on the play, but O’Neal failed to complete the three-point play when he missed his free throw.

Not in the box score: Kareem Rush stepped up to make two key three-point baskets, but after he knocked down the first one, the Staples Center video screen flashed, “Kobe.” Following Rush’s second three-pointer, he still didn’t get much love but it did read “Yeah!” instead of “Kobe.”

Winning number: 10, rebounds by Malone and O’Neal, who helped the Lakers outrebound Houston, 12-10, in the quarter.

Wrong number: 1, point scored by Mobley, who disappeared down the stretch.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant, Rush 6, Derek Fisher 5, O’Neal 4. Rockets -- Francis 7, Taylor 6.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- Malone, O’Neal 5; Rockets -- Yao 3.