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Rockets figure out Lakers

HOUSTON - The Rockets found a way to make Shaquille O'Neal a nonfactor for half the game, and a pair of late acrobatic baskets by Steve Francis clinched things after O'Neal finally got aggressive again.

The Rockets defeated the Lakers 102-91 Friday night, cutting Los Angeles' first-round lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven West series.

Francis had 27 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Cuttino Mobley added 21 points, Yao Ming scored 18 and Maurice Taylor came off the bench to add 16 for the Rockets.

O'Neal scored 25, with 11 in the first few minutes and 10 in the fourth. Kobe Bryant added 21 for the Lakers.

The Rockets, who had made only five 3's in the first two games, had nine of them - including four by Francis and three by Jim Jackson.

PACERS 108, CELTICS 85: Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender each scored 19, and Indiana handed Boston its worst home playoff loss in team history, a span of 261 postseason games since 1948, to go up 3-0 in the East series. Ron Artest, who returned from a one-game suspension for leaving the bench when Boston's Brandon Hunter threw Jermaine O'Neal to the floor in the opener, scored 15 and played outstanding defense on Paul Pierce, who made 4 of 17 shots and had nine points.

After five losing seasons in Golden State, Antawn Jamison was so excited about being on a winning team in Dallas that he was willing to become a backup for the first time in his life. His willingness to take on the job was rewarded with the league's Sixth Man Award. He averaged 14.8 points and 6.3 rebounds and played every game.

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant took a brief break from his self-imposed media boycott, giving an impromptu interview to the Associated Press in which he explained his extended silence with a short answer: "One thing, I am stubborn." Bryant's comments, in which he reiterated he would prefer to play for the Lakers next season after opting out of his contract, were his first to a member of the print media in 12 days.

BUCKS: Rookie point guard T.J. Ford has decided to have cervical spine surgery next month. Ford hasn't played since he bruised his spinal cord Feb. 24 when he landed on his tailbone.

GRIZZLIES: Guard Jason Williams sat out practice with a sore right hand.

KNICKS: Commissioner David Stern denied a protest by New York, which claimed the clock stopped twice in the final 1:50 of its Game 3 loss Thursday.

SUNS: The owners approved the sale to a group headed by real estate and banking executive Robert Sarver for $401-million. Former league stars Charles Barkley and Sean Elliott will own a share of the team.