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Lakers Run Over RaptorsLos Angeles Edges Closer To First Place In PacificLOS ANGELES, 12:15 p.m. PST March 8, 2001 -- With 61/2 weeks until the playoffs begin, the Los Angeles Lakers figured the start of a four-game homestand was the best time to make a move. They took a big step by beating the Toronto Raptors 97-85 Wednesday night, a victory that moved the Lakers within a half-game of idle Portland for the Pacific Division lead. Next up is San Antonio on Friday night, followed by Seattle and Boston. "We're in a pretty good groove right now,'' Brian Shaw said. "Our defense is starting to get better. "We're not letting every team now get 100 on us night in and night out. That's the biggest change we've made.'' But the Lakers had to rally behind Kobe Bryant, who had 17 of his 29 points in the third quarter, to earn their eighth consecutive home win and fourth in a row. Exhausted from playing four games in five days and not getting much sleep because of his aching ankles, Bryant struggled on 1-of-10 shooting in the first half. "It was one of the hardest games I ever played in. I wanted to go to sleep,'' said Bryant, who laid down at halftime. "It just caught up to me. Last night against Golden State, it was a similar first half, just real drowsy.'' Shaquille O'Neal was wide awake in the first half when the Lakers trailed by 10 points before taking a two-point lead into halftime. He finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds despite resting the entire fourth quarter. After falling behind by six in the third quarter, Bryant came alive during a 15-2 run that gave the Lakers the lead for good. Against Vince Carter's defense, Bryant had their final 10 points of the period, including an alley-oop dunk, two long-range jumpers and a layup, for a 76-67 lead. "We were in the game until the last three or four minutes in the third quarter,'' said Toronto's Charles Oakley, who had 10 rebounds. "But then we stopped playing defense, Kobe got hot and we couldn't hit our shots.'' Bryant left with 3:40 remaining and the Lakers ahead by 18 points. He attributed his second-half outburst to the challenge of matching up with Carter. "I know that's what people want to see,'' Bryant said. "That's an opportunity to kind of kill two birds with one stone, get the win and win the individual matchup.'' Carter led the Raptors with 28 points. He had their first six points of the fourth before committing his fifth foul. At the same time, Bryant was scoring six in a row to give Los Angeles an 87-71 lead. "When you play a team like the Lakers, it's the little things that count,'' Oakley said. "They are looking for a show between Vince and Kobe and Shaq, but we need to take care of the little things. We didn't do that.'' The Lakers dominated the boards 53-33, a turnaround from their overtime victory against Toronto on Dec. 17 when the Raptors grabbed 61 rebounds -- the most by a Los Angeles opponent this season. Horace Grant matched O'Neal with 10 rebounds. "We were terrible,'' Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens said. "I didn't think wehad any energy.''
Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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NCAA Tourney: Brackets Released
Preview: Spring Training 2001
