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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) -- The crowd was wonderful, the reception warm and
the victory special. Now Phil Jackson will gladly get out of town,
thank you very much.
"It's really nice to have played it," Jackson said Tuesday
night after his first game at the United Center as an opposing
coach.
|  | | Shaquille O'Neal scored 29 points to go with 20 rebounds. He also hit 11 of his 12 free throws. |
"But it's good to be over."
Chicago fans might disagree, even if Jackson's Lakers did beat
the Bulls 88-76.
Like jilted lovers still carrying a torch, fans packed the
United Center as if one of the most sordid breakups in NBA history
never happened. They gave Jackson a standing ovation when he walked
in, cheered him at halftime and gave him more love as he left.
The only thing the fans couldn't give him was the game, and Shaquille O'Neal and Rick Fox took care of that.
"I told Phil that game was for him," said O'Neal, who went an
astonishing 11-of-12 from the free throw line and scored a total of
29 points. "We have an excellent relationship, and I'm real glad he
decided to come out of retirement."
Fox scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter, including
a 3-pointer as part of a game-closing 26-9 run.
After back-to-back 3-pointers put the Bulls up 67-62 with 8:41
left in the game, Fox hit a layup and a 3 to tie the game. O'Neal
followed with five free throws -- he didn't miss a free throw until
4:47 left in the fourth -- and a baby hook to give Los Angeles a
74-72 lead.
Fox drilled the decisive 3-pointer with 4:15 left, giving Los Angeles a 77-72 lead.
"The difference in the game came late," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "Rick Fox was the difference."
Kobe Bryant added 21 for the Lakers, who shot just 40 percent from the floor. It was Los Angeles' first victory over the Bulls in
Chicago since March 11, 1995.
Ron Artest led the Bulls with 16 points, Toni Kukoc added 14 and Dickey Simpkins and Randy Brown each scored 10.
"It is special for me," Jackson said. "And special for Shaq. He was really glad to help contribute to that win, and I thank him for it."
But this game wasn't about hacking Shaq, no matter how amazing his stats were. This was all about Jackson, as big a part of Chicago's championship run as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Chicagoans have a special place in their hearts for the quirky
coach, even if they don't always get what he's saying. They
supported him when he zoomed off on his Harley-Davidson in June of
1998, weary of the circus that surrounded the Bulls and tired of
the sniping with general manager Jerry Krause.
And they backed him when his "retirement" gave way to the
Lakers job after only a year. Ticket scalpers were actually working
the sidewalks before the game, trying to grab extra tickets. Fans
made it sound like the glory days when Jackson walked on the floor,
filling the arena with cheers.
"Thank God for all the photographers. I couldn't see any of the
people," Jackson said. "It was a warm welcome, a friendly
welcome. And the pre-game ceremony, I thank the Bulls for not doing
anything extraordinary. Otherwise I might have broke down and
cried."
Jackson was moved as he walked onto the floor, smiling sheepishly before
acknowledging the crowd with a wave. He hugged Bulls assistant Bill Cartwright, a player on the first three championship teams, and made his way down to the Lakers bench.
That's when things really got weird. The Lakers, who have the
second-best record in the league, came out looking more like the
Bulls. They shot a dismal 36 percent in the first half and trailed
39-36 at halftime.
After trailing the entire third quarter, the Lakers finally took
the lead thanks to -- when's the last time you saw this? -- O'Neal's
free throws. O'Neal, who came into the game shooting just 48
percent from the line, made two free throws to give Los Angeles a
54-53 lead with 1:07 left in the third.
Though they trailed into the fourth quarter, there was no doubt
they were going to win, Bryant said.
"We've been in worse situations," he said, smiling.
Now the Lakers are off to Charlotte, Phil-Fest behind them. At
least until he comes to town again.
"You've got to remember, we went through the whole Dennis
Rodman mania," Bryant said. "This is pretty calm right now."
Game notes
Bryant and Brown were called for a double technical with
6:49 left in the first quarter. ... Will Perdue and O'Neal got into
a scrum with 7:01 left in the fourth when Perdue took O'Neal down
in a headlock. Perdue was called for a flagrant foul, and O'Neal
was called for a technical on the Lakers' next trip down the floor
for trash-talking. ... Los Angeles outrebounded the Bulls 49-37.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
No Bull: Jackson cheered by Chicago crowd
Jackson has made the difference in L.A.
RECAPS
Charlotte 95
Philadelphia 93
Toronto 91
New York 70
Atlanta 103
New Jersey 86
Cleveland 92
San Antonio 81
Miami 107
LA Clippers 88
LA Lakers 88
Chicago 76
Denver 107
Minnesota 104
Milwaukee 112
Dallas 99
Houston 107
Detroit 102
Boston 101
Utah 99
Seattle 114
Washington 85
Portland 92
Golden State 83
Phoenix 117
Sacramento 108
AUDIO/VIDEO
 "No human being can take me off my game," Shaq says.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Phil Jackson was thankful for the warm welcome.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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