GAME 3 REPORT

SAN ANTONIO 16 LAKERS 28

Highlight reel: Teamwork was the order of the quarter for the Lakers, who put together their best 12 minutes of the playoffs. The most impressive play came when Gary Payton threw a bullet pass into the post to Karl Malone, who completed a touch pass to Shaquille O’Neal for a Staples Center crowd-pleasing dunk.

Not in the box score: The Lakers hustled back on defense whenever the Spurs had the ball in transition, which certainly wasn’t the case in the first two games. The Lakers’ defensive play was highlighted by a Spur fastbreak that turned into an unforced turnover committed by Tony Parker, who threw the ball out of bounds.

Winning number: 11 assists on 12 baskets by the Lakers, who moved the ball crisply like a championship team determined to win.

Wrong number: Zero points for San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, who was taken out of the offensive flow by Malone’s tight, physical defense.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 10, Kobe Bryant 9, Malone 6; Spurs -- Manu Ginobili 6, Parker 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 6, Bryant 2; Spurs -- Ginobili 2.

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SAN ANTONIO 32 LAKERS 42

Highlight reel: No one makes tougher shots than Bryant and he knocked down a corner jumper that left a bad taste in the mouth of the Spurs’ Bruce Bowen. With the 24-second clock running down after a Laker timeout, Bryant froze Bowen just enough to launch a difficult shot that hit nothing but net.

Not in the box score: After Parker, who made only two of eight shots in the first half, attempted an uncontested three-pointer that did not hit the rim, Laker fans reminded him of his badly missed shot with an “air-ball” serenade.

Winning number: Zero fastbreak points in the quarter for the Spurs, who struggled to finish in the open court against the Lakers, who did a good job of forcing them into bad shots in transition.

Wrong number: Two points scored by Duncan, who missed seven of eight shots in the first half. Duncan also had four turnovers in the first half.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 6, O’Neal 4; Spurs -- Devin Brown 8, Bowen and Ginobili 3.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal and Bryant 3; Spurs -- Duncan 5

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SAN ANTONIO 58 LAKERS 75

Highlight reel: It doesn’t get any prettier than the Laker fastbreak that led to a three-point play by Payton. Defense started the break when Parker drove the lane and had a layup attempt blocked against the backboard by O’Neal, who threw a perfect outlet pass to Payton, who finished the play with a layup in transition.

Not in the box score: The spacing of the Laker half-court offense could not have been better against the Spurs’ pressure defense. With O’Neal attracting attention inside, the Lakers were able to spread San Antonio’s defenders and get open looks at the basket in a breakout quarter.

Winning number: Three consecutive free throws made in one stretch by O’Neal, who began the game shooting less than 29% from the line in the playoffs.

Wrong number: Three minutes played in the quarter by the Spurs’ Rasho Nesterovic, who was a non-factor after playing two strong games to open the series.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 9, Payton 7, Devean George 5; Spurs -- Duncan 6, Ginobili 5.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 3, George and Malone 2; Spurs -- Duncan 7.

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SAN ANTONIO 81 LAKERS 105

Highlight reel: Whenever Bryant is passing and O’Neal is finishing plays, the Lakers are a team in harmony. That was the case late in the quarter when Bryant drove the left wing and fed O’Neal, who completed the move with a dunk and free throw for a three-point play.

Not in the box score: The one-of-a-kind expression Payton wore when he looked directly at Parker while driving to the basket on a fastbreak. Payton wasn’t exactly smirking but it was easy to see that he enjoyed having the basketball in the open court and finishing in transition.

Winning number: 105 points for the Lakers, who became the first team to top 100 against the Spurs since Sacramento on March 14, a span of 22 games.

Wrong number: Four combined points for the Spur starters, only one of whom finished the game in double figures (Duncan with 10).

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Kareem Rush 6, O’Neal and Payton 5, Derek Fisher 4 and Slava Medvedenko 4. Spurs -- Charlie Ward 5, Malik Rose, Kevin Willis and Brown 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 3; Spurs -- Rose 7, Brown 4.