Box Score

 

UTAH (101)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
M Harpring          39 10-17   4-5   2-6   2   3   24
K Malone            38  3-16   5-5   2-8   3   2   11
G Ostertag           2   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   1    0
C Cheaney           18   1-4   0-0   1-3   0   3    2
J Stockton          31  4-10   4-4   0-0  10   1   13
J Collins           14   1-3   1-2   1-2   0   2    3
A Kirilenko         36  8-12 10-10   1-8   2   3   30
M Jackson           17   1-3   2-2   0-1   6   1    4
S Padgett           21   2-6   0-0   0-4   3   3    6
J Amaechi           22   1-4   2-2   2-4   1   2    4
D Stevenson          2   2-2   0-0   0-0   0   0    4
C Arroyo           DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 33-77 28-30  9-36  27  21  101
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.429, FT-.933. 3-Point Goals:
7-10, .700 (M Harpring 0-1, J Stockton 1-1, A
Kirilenko 4-4, S Padgett 2-4). Team Rebounds:
5. Blocked Shots:2 (K Malone, A Kirilenko). 
Turnovers:17 (M Harpring 5, A Kirilenko 3, K 
Malone 2, J Amaechi 2, G Ostertag, J Collins,
S Padgett, J Stockton, C Cheaney). Steals: 10
(J Stockton 2, M Jackson 2, S Padgett 2, K 
Malone, D Stevenson, M Harpring, C Cheaney).


LA LAKERS (110)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
R Fox               26   3-8   3-4   0-2   2   4   11
S Walker            20   0-2   4-6   2-6   1   3    4
S O'Neal            41 13-19  6-10  4-11   3   4   32
K Bryant            39  9-18   7-9   0-4  14   4   25
D Fisher            22   6-8   1-1   0-4   0   4   13
R Horry             32   3-9   0-0   3-7   2   1    7
B Shaw              27   4-8   2-2   1-6   2   3   11
D George            22   2-6   0-0   0-3   0   2    4
T Murray             3   0-2   0-0   1-1   0   1    0
K Rush               8   1-1   0-0   0-0   0   3    3
M Madsen           DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
S Medvedenko       DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 41-81 23-32 11-44  24  29  110
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.506, FT-.719. 3-Point Goals:
5-15, .333 (R Fox 2-4, K Bryant 0-1, D Fisher
0-1, R Horry 1-3, B Shaw 1-3, D George 0-1, T
Murray 0-1, K Rush 1-1). Team Rebounds: 10. 
Blocked Shots:4 (S O'Neal 3, D Fisher). 
Turnovers:19 (S O'Neal 6, K Bryant 5, D 
Fisher 2, B Shaw 2, S Walker 2, R Horry, K 
Rush). Steals: 12 (K Bryant 5, S O'Neal 3, B 
Shaw 2, D Fisher, D George).

--------------------------------------------
UTAH                 21  31  24  25   -  101
LA LAKERS            34  24  30  22   -  110
-------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: Utah - 1 (G Ostertag 2 
(ejected), 10:00 1st). La Lakers - 2 
(Defensive Three, 3:24 1st; K Bryant, 9:15 
3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: N/A. T: N/A. 
Officials: Derek Richardson, Derrick 
Stafford, Jason Phillips.

Extended Box

 

UTAH (101) AT LA LAKERS (110)

UTAH

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
M HARPRING        F    39   10-17     4-5      2   4   6    2   3   1   5   24
K MALONE          F    38    3-16     5-5      2   6   8    3   2   1   2   11
G OSTERTAG        C     2    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    0   1   0   1    0
C CHEANEY         G    18    1-4      0-0      1   2   3    0   3   1   1    2
J STOCKTON        G    31    4-10     4-4      0   0   0   10   1   2   1   13
J COLLINS              14    1-3      1-2      1   1   2    0   2   0   1    3
A KIRILENKO            36    8-12    10-10     1   7   8    2   3   0   3   30
M JACKSON              17    1-3      2-2      0   1   1    6   1   2   0    4
S PADGETT              21    2-6      0-0      0   4   4    3   3   2   1    6
J AMAECHI              22    1-4      2-2      2   2   4    1   2   0   2    4
D STEVENSON             2    2-2      0-0      0   0   0    0   0   1   0    4
C ARROYO              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   33-77    28-30     9  27  36   27  21  10  17  101
                            (.429)  (.933)  TEAM REBS:  5 TOTAL TO: 18 (19 PTS)    

LA LAKERS

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
R FOX             F    26    3-8      3-4      0   2   2    2   4   0   0   11
S WALKER          F    20    0-2      4-6      2   4   6    1   3   0   2    4
S O'NEAL          C    41   13-19     6-10     4   7  11    3   4   3   6   32
K BRYANT          G    39    9-18     7-9      0   4   4   14   4   5   5   25
D FISHER          G    22    6-8      1-1      0   4   4    0   4   1   2   13
R HORRY                32    3-9      0-0      3   4   7    2   1   0   1    7
B SHAW                 27    4-8      2-2      1   5   6    2   3   2   2   11
D GEORGE               22    2-6      0-0      0   3   3    0   2   1   0    4
T MURRAY                3    0-2      0-0      1   0   1    0   1   0   0    0
K RUSH                  8    1-1      0-0      0   0   0    0   3   0   1    3
M MADSEN              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
S MEDVEDENKO          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   41-81    23-32    11  33  44   24  29  12  19  110
                            (.506)  (.719)  TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 21 (25 PTS)    
  
   UTAH               21   31   24   25   -   101
   LA LAKERS          34   24   30   22   -   110
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: UTAH - K MALONE, A KIRILENKO.  LA LAKERS - S O'NEAL 3,
D FISHER.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: UTAH 7-10 (.700), M HARPRING 0-1, J STOCKTON 1-
1, A KIRILENKO 4-4, S PADGETT 2-4. LA LAKERS 5-15 (.333), R FOX 2-
4, K BRYANT 0-1, D FISHER 0-1, R HORRY 1-3, B SHAW 1-3, D GEORGE 0-
1, T MURRAY 0-1, K RUSH 1-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: UTAH - G OSTERTAG 2 (EJECTED). LA LAKERS - DEFENSIVE 
THREE, K BRYANT.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DEREK RICHARDSON, DERRICK STAFFORD, JASON PHILLIPS.
A - N/A. T - N/A.

Game Story

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Shaquille O'Neal wasted no time getting 
rid of Greg Ostertag and dispatched the rest of the Utah Jazz 
shortly thereafter.

In his best game of the season, O'Neal sent Ostertag to an early
shower and collected 32 points and 11 rebounds as the Los
Angeles Lakers cooled off the Jazz with a 110-101 victory.

"I didn't ask him how he felt but he looked as good tonight as
he has the past week," superstar teammate Kobe Bryant said.  "It
was a very good game for him.  I think he's coming along very
well."

Bryant added 25 points and 14 assists for the Lakers, who never
trailed and led by as many as 20 points.  They appeared to carry
the momentum from Friday's stunning comeback win against Dallas
and avenged Wednesday's loss at Utah.

O'Neal came in averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds in nine games
as he continues to play his way back into shape following toe
surgery.  The 7-2, 350-pound superstar has been inconsistent
since his return.

In the first two minutes, O'Neal scored over the 7-2 Ostertag
and appeared to get away with a foul on the defensive end.
Ostertag argued and was hit with two technical fouls, prompting
his ejection.

Ostertag moved toward the referee and had to be restrained by
teammates Matt Harpring and John Stockton.  Upon exiting, he
kicked over a pile of towels and yanked down the canvas above
the runway.

O'Neal took charge from there.  He totaled 16 points and five
rebounds in the first quarter, setting a tone with his inside
play that led to the Lakers shooting 20 free throws in the
period.  His dunk off a feed from Bryant gave Los Angeles a
33-17 lead with 1:17 to go.

By that time, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan also had been ejected.
With 4:12 left and Utah trailing 21-9, he picked up two
technicals and departed.

Ostertag did not talk to reporters after the game, but Sloan had
a bit to say.

"I thought Greg got hammered on the shot and there was no call
on it," Sloan said.  "Obviously, he was upset.  I sat there and
got a little more upset when I thought about it.

"That is what is unfair about basketball sometimes and I've
fought it as long as I've been in this league.  I saw it like I
see it now.  A lot of times the team is at a disadvantage
because of me because I fight harder than I should.  I feel like
there is a responsibility.  I get upset.  I was very upset
tonight."

O'Neal made 13-of-19 shots and 6-of-10 free throws, adding three
assists, three steals and three blocks.  However, he also left
without talking to reporters, although he left an impression on
Jazz center Jarron Collins.

"(You try to) keep Shaq away from the basket as much as
possible," Collins said.  "Try to keep him out of the lane.  It
was the same strategy as Greg had, just try to keep your body on
him - and Greg has more weight than me.  It's difficult."

"They let him sit in the lane for a half-hour," Sloan said.
"He's got an advantage to start with.  I would rather them foul
out than let a guy have a layup; foul him and let him earn it."

Derek Fisher scored 13 points and Rick Fox and Brian Shaw added
11 each for the Lakers, who shot 51 percent (41-of-81).

Andrei Kirilenko scored a career-high 30 points and Harpring
added 24 for the Jazz, who had won nine of their last 10 games.
They pulled within three points late in the first half but
could not overcome poor games by Karl Malone and John Stockton.

"They hung around and made the game competitive," Lakers coach
Phil Jackson said.  "Even with Karl Malone and John Stockton not
really having a game, they were able to muster up a force
against us."

Stockton had 13 points and 10 assists.  Malone managed 11 points
on just 3-of-16 shooting.

Kirilenko scored seven points and Scott Padgett six in a 19-6
run that opened the second quarter and cut the deficit to 44-40
with 5:35 remaining.  A 3-pointer by Stockton made it 55-52 in
the final minute of the half, but Bryant answered with a
three-point play.

Utah got no closer.  Bryant had a three-point play and a runner
that helped push a 10-point lead to 88-72 late in the third
quarter.

"At times, Kobe was terrific," Jackson said.

A three-point play by O'Neal gave the Lakers their largest lead
at 100-80 with 6:38 to play.