lakers | clippers

	lakers HEADLINES Lakers Pound Through Emotionally Charged Game Knicks Squeak Past Lakers Lakers Wasted By Sacramento Lakers Get Burned Lakers Rock Northern Rivals Kobe-Less Lakers Take Down Washington Lakers Bruised By Milwaukee A First In Four Seasons: Atlanta Over L.A. Another Laker Night In Orlando Wizards Get Waxed By L.A. Pistons Peter Out Against L.A. Irish Luck Runs Out In Los Angeles Sonics Sweep Lakers In OT Lakers Run Over Raptors Lakers Whip Warriors Lakers Notch Up Sixth Home Victory Lakers Vanquish Vancouver Lakers Learn Nuggets Won't Crack Lakers Cast Shadow On Sunshine State Lakers Dominate Lone Star State Lakers Outmaneuver Mavericks Pacers Pass Lakers By Point Lakers Beat Nets With Kobe And Shaq Attack Sixers Have Their Way With L.A. All-Star Match Leaves West Wasted Kobe Saves The Day Hornets Feel Kobe's Sting Lakers Stuff Sacramento Injured Kobe Leads Lakers To Victory Lakers Take Licking From Timberwolves Lakers' Visit To Garden Not Fruitful Lakers Halt Slide L.A. Laker Says Team 'Stinks' Lakers Zoom Past Rockets Grizzlies Angered By Arguable Loss To Lakers Lakers Choke In Salt Lake Lakers Beat The Cavaliers Clippers Clobber Defending Champs Lakers Dominate Jazz National HEADLINES Sexson's HR Caps Magic Milwaukee Night Masters: DiMarco Leads Into Weekend MLS Preview: Eager For Breakout Year Report: Blazers' Kemp Checks Into Rehab AL: Moose Loose In NYC NL: Giants Continue Perfect Start NBA: Kings Protect Division Lead NHL: Western Playoff Picture Sharper BC, North Dakota In Men's Hockey Rematch Hart Stepping Down As Indians GM Amazon Cuts Link Over Earnhardt Autopsy Pics NFL To Tackle Realignment In May Unknown Heroes Of The Final Four Chinese Player Makes NBA History Magnolias, Green Jackets & Memories Better Pray Coming 'Round Amen Corner

Lakers Zoom Past Rockets

Shaq Scores 41 Points

LOS ANGELES, Updated 8:41 p.m. PST January 20, 2001 -- Shaquille O'Neal, taking advantage of Houston's injury-depleted front line, scored 41 points on 17-of-23 shooting Friday night to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 114-101 victory over the Rockets.

O'Neal, who played just 32 minutes, had 11 rebounds and was 7-of-18 from the foul line.

Kobe Bryant added 29 points for the Lakers, who took control with a 20-6 run for a 91-73 lead with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.

Steve Francis scored 27 points for the Rockets, and Cuttino Mobley had 18, making 12 of 13 free throws.

Despite having three centers and a starting forward out, Houston kept the game close until the Lakers' third-quarter spurt.

The Rockets' Hakeem Olajuwon, on the injured list since Jan. 9 with a swollen right knee, did not make the trip. Kelvin Cato is out with a torn rotator cuff, and Carlos Rogers, who has been given time off to attend his grandfather's funeral, missed his fifth consecutive game.

Even the Houston player penciled in to start at center, forward Maurice Taylor, was unable to play because of the flu.

Kenny Thomas, a 6-foot-7 forward, was one of the Rockets assigned to guard the 7-1 O'Neal. He didn't even bother jumping on the opening tip against last season's MVP.

The Lakers were up 59-53 at halftime, with Francis' 15 points, 12 in the first quarter, helping keep the Rockets in the game.

O'Neal already had 25 points by halftime, although he had only five rebounds. Bryant had 14 points and their Los Angeles teammates had a total of only 19 points, seven of those by Rider.

Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 See our privacy policy, terms of use, ad rates and legal notices. Voted best news site in
California and Nevada by the Associated Press Television and Radio Association.
Entire Site © 2001, Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc..