O'Neal dominant in win
By Associated Press,
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 28, 2003
LOS ANGELES - Shaquille O'Neal had a simple plan to keep the Lakers from being on the brink of elimination: Just get him the ball.
"I told the guys before the game, get me the ball and move out of the way," he said. "I've just got to have the ball in a position where I can do something. As soon as I'm open, I would like to have it."
He got it from his teammates and on rebounds, and that was the difference Sunday as Los Angeles rallied to beat Minnesota 102-97 to even the first-round playoff series at 2.
O'Neal had 34 points, 23 rebounds and six assists for the three-time defending champions, who outscored the Timberwolves 22-11 in the final seven minutes.
Minnesota didn't make a field goal in 5:18 and fell behind for good. Kevin Garnett missed two free throws with 15 seconds remaining and a chance to pull the Timberwolves within one.
Kobe Bryant added 32 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, despite shooting 7-of-25. He was 16-of-17 from the free-throw line, making 4 of 4 in the last 12.8 seconds.
Garnett had 28 points, 18 rebounds and five assists, but his missed free throws were costly.
"Total missed opportunity," Garnett said. "We had them on the ropes, too. They know it."
Devean George made a 3-pointer to make it 93-89, but Wally Szczerbiak's 3-pointer with 2:15 left made it a one-point game.
Bryant then made two free throws and neither team scored again until the Timberwolves fouled O'Neal with 50.8 seconds left. O'Neal made one to give the Lakers a four-point lead and Garnett responded with a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left to make it 96-95.
O'Neal's tip-in with 19.1 seconds left gave Los Angeles a 100-97 lead, setting up Garnett's two misses.
Lakers forward Rick Fox left in the first quarter with a strained tendon in his left ankle and didn't return. He is scheduled for an MRI exam today.
CELTICS 102, PACERS 92: Paul Pierce scored 21 of his 37 in the third quarter to help lead host Boston to a 3-1 series lead.
"We don't want to prolong the series," Pierce said. "We don't want to give them any breathing room."
Boston went ahead 73-62 after three as Pierce scored the last 11 of the quarter, which began with Indiana leading 48-36.
Pierce's 32 points after intermission set a team playoff record for a half. The mark of 30 was set by John Havlicek in 1973 and matched by Larry Bird in 1985.
The Pacers used various tactics to harass Pierce, from a taller player jumping at him on long shots to double-teaming when he went inside, but couldn't stop him. They fouled him four times in the third and he hit all seven shots.
"We couldn't get him under control," Indiana coach Isiah Thomas said. "He's a shotmaker and he made shots. I don't think (Ron) Artest could have been any closer to him" on defense.
BLAZERS 98, MAVERICKS 79: Despite missing injured players Scottie Pippen, Derek Anderson and Arvydas Sabonis, host Portland avoided being swept in the first round.
Zach Randolph had 25 points and 15 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who snapped a 10-game playoff losing streak.
Coach Maurice Cheeks won his first playoff game as a coach after six losses.
"You have no idea how important it is to get that victory," he said later, still smiling.
No team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series, and Dallas hasn't lost four consecutive games all season.
After trailing 52-49 at the break, the Blazers had a 21-0 run in the third quarter and went on to lead by 24.
Late Saturday
JAZZ 107, KINGS 104: Utah didn't play like a team trying to salvage some respect. It looked more like a team with plans to advance.
Greg Ostertag had 22 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks as the host Jazz cut the Kings' series lead to 2-1. Ostertag topped his career playoff high for scoring and rebounding.
Sacramento's Chris Webber, who missed practice all week because of a sore lower back, had 24 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 1:57 left.
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