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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Lakers squeezed out a win
they really didn't need Monday night.
Glen Rice, for one, was ecstatic that they got it.
Rice drilled a 20-foot jumper from the right baseline as time
expired in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and Kobe Bryant
scored five of his 33 points in the extra period as the Lakers
topped the slumping Seattle SuperSonics 106-103.
|  | | Kobe Bryant, who scored a game-high 33 points for the Lakers, is fouled driving between the Sonics' Rashard Lewis, right, and Gary Payton.
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Once again, the Lakers played without Shaquille O'Neal, the
NBA's leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, who missed his
second game with a sprained left ankle.
The Lakers trailed 94-92 with 1.4 seconds remaining in
regulation when Brian Shaw inbounded the ball to Rice, who made the
big shot under heavy pressure to tie the game.
"I barely got it off," said Rice, who had 28 points and nine
rebounds. "I feel pretty good about it. It was a big-time shot,
gave the team a chance go to into overtime and win the game.
"I knew it was going in, it's sweet. Those are things that you
cherish for a lifetime. It's definitely a lift for me. Shaq is a
very important player to the team, obviously we miss him. I think
it was very important that we got a win without him in the
lineup."
The win was the 31st in 33 games for the Lakers, who have
already secured the NBA's best record and home-court advantage
throughout the playoffs. The Sonics, who have clinched a playoff
berth, lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
"It was a pretty nice win," Lakers guard Ron Harper said.
"Glen's a guy who we know can shoot the basketball. Glen had fun
tonight, he had the hot hand."
Harper made it clear that facing the Sonics in the first round
of the playoffs with O'Neal in the Lakers' lineup was fine with
him.
"We would love to see them early," Harper said with a smile.
Bryant, who also had 10 rebounds and six assists, made a short
bank shot with 1:36 remaining to snap a 100-all tie and put the
Lakers ahead for good.
Rice made two free throws with 10.4 seconds left to give the
Lakers a four-point lead.
Shammond Williams, who scored 17 of his career-high 28 points in
the fourth quarter, made a 3-point shot to draw the Sonics within
one, but A.C. Green scored on a breakaway dunk with 4.7 seconds
left to complete the scoring. Seattle's Vernon Maxwell missed a
3-pointer in the final seconds.
Gary Payton had 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the
Sonics, who trailed 73-60 entering the fourth quarter before
Williams led their comeback. Lazaro Borrell, another reserve,
scored all 10 of his points in the period.
"Every night I'm not promised I'll get to play," Williams
said. "We've got some good players and some good veterans. You
just have to wait your turn. And when you're called upon, you just
have to try to make the best of the opportunity."
Williams certainly did that Monday.
"There were some fantastic performances by both teams," Sonics
coach Paul Westphal said. "Individual efforts were just
incredible. Who would have thought it would be a shootout between
Shammond Williams and Lazaro Borrell against Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice?"
Bryant, who made only 2-of-12 shots in the first half and scored
eight points, went 7-of-9 in the third quarter and scored 16 points
as the Lakers outscored the Sonics 34-20 to take a 13-point lead.
O'Neal said before the game his ankle was improving, and he
hopes to play when the Lakers return to action Friday night against
Sacramento, like Seattle a possible first-round playoff opponent.
O'Neal, who sprained his ankle while scoring 49 points against
Golden State last Wednesday night, sat out Saturday's 98-80 loss to
San Antonio.
Vin Baker, Seattle's second-leading scorer, drew his third foul
6{ minutes into the game and sat out the rest of the first half.
Baker had only three points and nine rebounds before fouling out
with 3:27 left in overtime.
Game notes
The Lakers paid tribute to Wilt Chamberlain, the
second-leading scorer in NBA history, in a brief ceremony before
the game. Chamberlain, a member of the Lakers' 1971-72 championship
team, died six months ago at age 63. ... The Sonics handed the
Lakers one of their five losses at Staples Center on Jan. 17,
winning an 82-81 decision on a 3-point shot by Payton with 16
seconds left, capping a 36-point performance. The Lakers won both
games between the teams in Seattle. ... Payton has scored 20 or
more points in 15 straight games. ... Seattle's Horace Grant
recorded the 1,000th blocked shot of his career in the fourth
quarter. ... The Lakers made 26-of-30 free throws while the Sonics
were just 16-of-28.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
LA Lakers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 99
Atlanta 94
Philadelphia 96
Miami 80
Toronto 112
Cleveland 103
Charlotte 107
Washington 105
Milwaukee 104
Orlando 87
Minnesota 102
Detroit 100
New York 83
Indiana 81
LA Lakers 106
Seattle 103
Portland 90
Utah 86
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