Game 5 Report

FIRST QUARTER

LAKERS 24 SAN ANTONIO 18

Highlight reel: The Lakers normally rely on Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal for spectacular plays, but Devean George and Slava Medvedenko stepped up with baskets they usually do not make. George, who had attempted only three-pointers in the series, pulled up in transition for a midrange jumper, and Medvedenko followed with a soft runner in the lane.

Not in the box score: After two dominant games from O’Neal in Los Angeles, San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich switched to a more conventional defense -- with a defender behind the Laker center -- early in Game 5.

Winning number: 61.1, the shooting percentage in the quarter for the Lakers, who made 11 of 18 field goal attempts with six players scoring baskets.

Wrong number: Seven, the amount of three-point attempts missed in the quarter by the Spurs, who made only one shot from behind the arc.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 6, George 5, Karl Malone and O’Neal 4; Spurs -- Tim Duncan 9, Bruce Bowen 3.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- Malone 6 and O’Neal 3; Spurs -- Duncan 5, Rasho Nesterovic and Manu Ginobili 2.

SECOND QUARTER

LAKERS 42 SAN ANTONIO 35

Highlight reel: Bowen doesn’t make too many successful drives to the basket, but he brought life to the Spurs when he dribbled around Malone before making a difficult double-clutch layup in front of Medvedenko. Minutes later, Bowen added a three-point basket to help ignite a San Antonio run before halftime.

Not in the box score: The Lakers, led by Bryant, were relaxed and confident as they controlled the pace of the game. Early in the quarter, Coach Phil Jackson teamed Bryant with Kareem Rush and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, and the Lakers did not skip a beat.

Winning number: 11, the amount of rebounds grabbed in the first half by Duncan, who pulled down six boards in the quarter to help the Spurs hold a 23-20 rebounding edge at intermission.

Wrong number: Zero, the amount of Laker free throws in the quarter. The team had only two shots from the line the entire first half. Gary Payton made one of two free throws in the opening quarter.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 8, Fisher 5, Luke Walton 3; Spurs -- Hedo Turkoglu, Bowen 5.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 3, Malone 2; Spurs -- Duncan 6.

THIRD QUARTER

LAKERS 62 SAN ANTONIO 53

Highlight reel: O’Neal began the second half with three fouls, but it did not stop him from having active hands on defense early in the quarter. O’Neal slapped the ball out of Duncan’s hands before he could get a shot up, and then he delivered an additional statement moments later with a timely block on Duncan’s next shot from the baseline.

Not in the box score: Even San Antonio fans seemed in awe watching the Lakers play team basketball. After the Spurs rallied early in the quarter to close within two points, the Lakers responded with sound defense and opportunistic shooting to quiet the SBC Center crowd.

Winning number: 11, the points scored in the quarter by George, who not only knocked down three-pointers but also drove the lane for a power dunk in making four of five field goal attempts.

Wrong number: Six, the points scored in three quarters by O’Neal, who made three of six field goal attempts but had trouble getting position in the post against the Spurs’ collapsing defense.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- George 11 and Bryant 4; Spurs -- Devin Brown 10, Ginobili 4.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 4, Malone and Payton 2; Spurs -- Duncan 6 and Parker 2.

FOURTH QUARTER

LAKERS 74 SAN ANTONIO 73

Highlight reel: Fisher saved his best for last with a shot that may have saved the Lakers’ season. On the final play of the game, Fisher caught the ball and launched his game-winning basket all in the same motion to give the Lakers a dramatic Game 5 victory.

Not in the box score: After missing 11 of 14 field-goal attempts and looking very indecisive with the ball, the Spurs’ Parker rediscovered his game and led a furious rally to cut the Lakers’ lead midway into the quarter. Parker made three consecutive baskets to give the Spurs a chance down the stretch. Duncan made an off-balance jumper with less than a second left to give the Spurs a 73-72 lead.

Winning number: 0.4, the fraction of a second remaining in regulation when the Lakers took the ball out of bounds before Fisher’s game-winning basket.

Wrong number: Eight, the amount of turnovers committed in the second half by the Lakers, who turned the ball over five times in the fourth quarter after having only five turnovers in the first half.

Leading scorers: Lakers -- O’Neal 5, Bryant 4; Spurs -- Parker 9, Duncan 8.

Leading rebounders: Lakers -- Malone 3; Spurs -- Duncan 4, Ginobili 3, Parker 2.