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LA Lakers clobber Yao Ming's Rockets 98-84
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-20 14:47 Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone seldom have two bad
games in a row, and their efforts Monday night helped the Los Angeles Lakers
overcome Shaquille O'Neal's lowest-scoring playoff game ever.
Los Angeles Lakers
center Shaquille O'Neal (R) fouls Chinese star and Houston Rockets center
Yao Ming their Western Conference quarterfinal playoff game, April 19,
2004 in Los Angeles. [Reuters] | Bryant scored 17
of his 36 points in the third quarter, and Malone had 17 points and eight
rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the Houston Rockets 98-84 for a 2-0
lead in their first-round playoff series.
O'Neal, in foul trouble most of the game, had a career playoff-low seven
points and seven rebounds. His previous low was 11 points against Utah in 1997.
The best-of-seven series moves to Houston for Games 3 and 4 Friday night and
Sunday afternoon.
In Game 1, Bryant shot 4-of-19 for 16 points and Malone was 3-of-14 for seven
points in the Lakers' 72-71 victory. It was a much different story this time,
with Bryant shooting 9-of-20 from the field and 16-of-17 from the foul line.
Malone shot 7-of-12.
After being held to a season-low 32.9 percent shooting in the opener, the
Lakers shot 45.3 percent in Game 2.
Steve Francis, appearing in just his second playoff game, became the fourth
Houston player to record a triple-double in the playoffs with 18 points, 10
rebounds and 12 assists. He has six in the regular season during his five-year
career.
Yao Ming scored 21 points and Jim Jackson added 19 for the Rockets.
Derek Fisher scored 11 points and Kareem Rush had 10 for the Lakers.
Houston Rockets
head coach Jeff Van Gundy (L) and center Yao Ming of China react as the
Los Angeles Lakers score another basket, during Game 2 of their Western
Conference quarterfinal series, April 19, 2004 in Los Angeles. The Lakers
defeated the Rockets 98-84 to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
[Reuters] | Rush made two 3-pointers in the first
four minutes of the fourth quarter for his first points as part of a 19-7 run
that gave the Lakers an 85-69 lead.
Rush also made two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of Game 1.
O'Neal picked up his fourth foul less than three minutes into the third
quarter with the game tied. With backup Slava Medvedenko sidelined by a strained
right Achilles' tendon, Lakers coach Phil Jackson had no choice but to leave
O'Neal in.
Bryant made two free throws and O'Neal converted a three-point play to give
the Lakers a 61-56 lead. The field goal was O'Neal's second of the game.
Bryant scored six points in the last 15.8 seconds of the period to give the
Lakers a 74-64 lead.
O'Neal had only two points and four rebounds in the first half, playing only
14 minutes because of foul trouble.
The Lakers scored eight straight points for a 33-25 lead early in the second
quarter. But the Rockets went on an 8-0 run of their own to finish the period
for a 46-44 halftime lead.
Yao scored 10 points in the first nine minutes to equal his total in Game 1.
O'Neal blocked Yao twice in the opening 19 seconds, but committed two fouls in
the first 6:05 and sat out the rest of the first quarter, which ended with the
Lakers leading 23-22.
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