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Shaq Leads Lakers to Win Over Pistons 94-89
11.14.03
Behind a dominating second half from Shaquille O’Neal, the Los Angeles won their 19th straight regular season home game, beating the Detroit Pistons 94-89 on Friday night.
The winning streak marks the team’s longest home run since they won 24 straight during the 1987-88 to 1988-89 seasons. The Lakers last loss came to the New York Knicks on February 16, 2003, 117-110. The team did lose twice in the playoffs last season.
The Lakers led the game early by 12, but found themselves in a dogfight by halftime, tied at 45.
O’Neal, who scored just six points in the first half, dominated the second, scoring 15 of his team-high 21 points. He narrowly missed a triple-double, as he also tallied 15 rebounds and eight assists. He also iced the game with two free throws in the final 20 seconds.
Gary Payton shared high scoring honors with O’Neal, as he also registered 21 points, and hit a clutch 3-point basket in the closing minutes to push the Laker lead to 90-83. “The Glove” has been struggling from beyond the arc so far this season, making only 4-of-18 prior to his 4th quarter basket.
Karl Malone, playing with a sore hamstring, scored 16 and grabbed nine rebounds, and Kobe Bryant, fresh off his return from a Colorado courtroom, chipped in with 16 points.
The Lakers defense held the Pistons to 43% shooting (37-of-87) from the field, and only 2-of-10 from beyond the arc, while shooting 47% themselves (36-of-76) from the floor.
Chauncey Billups had a strong night, scoring a game-high 29 points. He got little help from his teammates however, as Elden Campbell was the only other Piston in double-figures in scoring with 12.
The Lakers try to extend their home winning streak to 20 when they face the struggling Miami Heat on Sunday.
Link: LakerStats.com Box Score
Link: NBA.com Recap
Kobe Saves The Day, Lakers Sink Bucks 113-107
11.04.03
If tonight was any indication of Kobe Bryant‘s health, Laker fans have nothing to worry about. Bryant hit a variety of 4th quarter shots as he helped rally the Lakers from behind to beat the Bucks 113-107 in Milwaukee.
The Lakers, who trailed most of the second half, overcame as much as a 10-point deficit to take control of the game in the final minute. Bryant hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:30 left giving the Lakers a 103-101 lead, which they never relinquished. The All-Star guard then hit a jump shot with 30 seconds left to seal the victory.
Bryant scored a season-high 31 points, to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds, leading another very balanced Laker attack, with six players in double-figures. Shaquille O’Neal scored 23 and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Gary Payton scored 19 in his return to Milwaukee, and Karl Malone, despite shooting only 4-of-15 from the field, scored 11 points to go along with his 11 rebounds.
The Lakers led the game by as many as 12 in the first half. But poor free throw shooting and a barrage of Bucks 3-pointers put the Lakers in a second half hole that they barely were able to dig out of. A late 11-0 run in the 4th quarter was capped by an O’Neal dunk and free throw helping the Lakers remain undefeated at 4-0.
The Bucks were led by Michael Redd who tallied a game-high 36 points, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Link: LakerStats.com Box Score
Link: NBA.com Recap
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