GAME 1 REPORT
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LAKERS 14 SAN ANTONIO 21
Highlight reel: On a fastbreak, the Spurs made three passes that resulted in Manu Ginobili’s drilling a wide-open, straightaway three-pointer at 4:11. It was the start of an 18-2 Spur run.
Not in the box score: The SBC Center erupted when Tony Parker made a three-point shot from just inside the Spurs’ logo near midcourt at the buzzer.
Winning number: Four. The Spurs made all of their shots in the final two minutes, three from 18 feet or more.
Wrong number: Zero. Lakers went the final 4:58 without scoring from the field, missing seven shots and turning the ball over three times.
Leading scorers: Lakers -- Kobe Bryant 6, Shaquille O’Neal 4. Spurs -- Tim Duncan and Parker 7.
Leading rebounders: Lakers -- Bryant 6, O’Neal 3. Spurs -- Duncan, Parker and Ginobili 2.
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LAKERS 33 SAN ANTONIO 41
Highlight reel: Well, at least it was for former Inglewood High star Jason Hart when he slipped inside a napping Laker defense two minutes into the quarter for only his ninth basket of the playoffs.
Not in the box score: A precursor of the third quarter -- Bryant fed to O’Neal for a dunk with eight seconds left.
Winning number: One. The Spurs didn’t commit a turnover after Devin Brown threw the ball out of bounds on their first possession.
Wrong number: Six. The Lakers were aggressive enough, getting 11 offensive rebounds, but were able to convert those into only two baskets and two free throws.
Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 7, O’Neal 6. Spurs -- Duncan 8, Rasho Nesterovic 4.
Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 6, Karl Malone 5. Spurs -- Nesterovic 4, Kevin Willis 3.
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LAKERS 65 SAN ANTONIO 62
Highlight reel: Bryant had the Spurs’ heads spinning, beating them inside and out to make five baskets in the first nine minutes.
Not in the box score: The confidence the Lakers exuded as they turned an eight-point deficit into a three-point lead during their highest-scoring quarter (32 points) of the playoffs.
Winning number: Seven. Assists by four Lakers, including two by Bryant that led to a dunk by O’Neal and a three-pointer by Devean George.
Wrong number: Three. Times that Duncan attempted to shoot. He made his only basket at 10:18, was fouled attempting to shoot at 8:06 and missed a short jumper at 5:05.
Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 12, George 8. Spurs -- Parker 13, Ginobili and Duncan 3.
Leading rebounders: Lakers -- O’Neal 4, Bryant 2. Spurs -- Duncan and Robert Horry 3.
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LAKERS 78 SAN ANTONIO 88
Highlight reel: For those who enjoy the subtleties of the game, Duncan made an 11-foot bank shot to give the Spurs an eight-point lead with 3:55 remaining. This shot was a staple of John Wooden-coached teams.
Not in the box score: The Spurs once would have been floored by the Lakers after their out-of-sync performance in third quarter. But the Spurs showed the mark of an NBA champion and got back to things they do best -- playing lock-down defense and working the ball to Duncan.
Right number: 12. Points by Duncan.
Wrong number: 13. A very superstitious Laker point total.
Leading scorers: Lakers -- Bryant 6, O’Neal 3. Spurs -- Duncan 12, Ginobili 5.
Leading rebounders: Lakers -- Malone 3, Gary Payton 2. Spurs -- Duncan 4, Ginobili 3.
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