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Wednesday, Jan. 5 10:30pm ET
Lakers' winning streak longest in NBA | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After scoring 78 points and grabbing 34 rebounds on consecutive nights against the Los Angeles Clippers, Shaquille O'Neal admitted he was tired. The Los Angeles Lakers center was entitled.
O'Neal, admitting he was probably playing his best basketball since joining the Lakers before the 1996-97 season, had 40 points and 19 rebounds Wednesday night in a 118-101 victory over the Clippers. O'Neal, who came out of the game for good with 6:49 remaining and the Lakers leading 94-81, just missed the third 40-point, 20-rebound game of his career. He had 38 points and 15 rebounds a night earlier to lead the Lakers past the Clippers 122-98. "I slept too much today, I was kind of lethargic," he said after his team's 12th straight victory. "My legs were kind of tired. I was going to the hole with two or three guys on my back, like I've been doing for seven years." The Lakers' winning streak is the longest in the NBA this season, and the longest since they won 16 in a row during the 1990-91 season -- the last time they reached the NBA Finals. Their 19th victory in 20 games gave the Lakers an NBA-best 27-5 record. In addition, it was their 12th straight win over the Clippers and 12th consecutive victory at home. "They came out kind of pumped," O'Neal said of the Clippers. "They should have been pumped, they have nothing to lose. It was hard for us to get up for a team like that." Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that O'Neal, who played 35 minutes, would have gone back into the game in the late stages had the Clippers made it a 10-point game. They didn't. "We are making strides, but I'm tired of losing," said Clippers forward Maurice Taylor, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds. "Shaq makes the difference. If we had him, we'd win." In the two games, O'Neal outscored starting Clippers center Michael Olowokandi 78-5 and outrebounded him 34-12. "You can't fault our effort," said Clippers coach Chris Ford, whose team didn't fall behind for good until O'Neal scored with 2:25 left in the third quarter to give the Lakers a 75-73 lead. "We don't have an answer for (O'Neal). Shaq is a tremendous player." Kobe Bryant added 26 points, a season-high 10 rebounds and six assists for the Lakers, who entertain Charlotte on Friday night and play in Seattle on Saturday night. "I wasn't pleased with our defense last night or tonight," Jackson said. "We will have to do better with that this weekend. "I'm glad that's over with," Jackson said of the two games with the Clippers. "Good games for us to win, not a whole lot of fun to watch or to coach." Lamar Odom led the Clippers, who lost their fourth straight, with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Tyrone Nesby added 23 points. The game was tied at 52 at halftime, and neither team led by more than three points in the third quarter before the Lakers went on a 10-2 to finish the period for a 79-73 lead. O'Neal scored eight of the 10 points. O'Neal scored five straight points early in the fourth quarter to make it 84-75, and the Clippers weren't closer than seven points after that. O'Neal picked up his third foul with 5:28 left before halftime and the Lakers leading 43-42. O'Neal, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds at that stage, was lifted and didn't return until the third quarter. Glen Rice, averaging 17.1 points, missed his first six shots and didn't score until the opening 30 seconds of the third quarter. He finished with seven points.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard LA Clippers Clubhouse LA Lakers Clubhouse RECAPS Philadelphia 113 Golden State 92
LA Lakers 118
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