LOS ANGELES, 2 December 2003 — Something had to give when the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers looked to keep their impressive streaks alive in a matchup of the NBA’s two top teams.
Foul-troubled Shaquille O’Neal scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half, and the Lakers rolled to their 25th consecutive regular-season home victory, 99-77 over the Pacers on Sunday night.
“We just want to stay dominant at home and beat the teams we’re supposed to beat,” said O’Neal, who made 8-of-13 shots in just 23 minutes after picking up three early fouls.
O’Neal had just seven points in a 103-87 thumping over San Antonio on Friday night after missing two games with a strained right calf. The All-Star center was looking to have a big offensive night but the referees interfered with his goal.
“I went to bed early last night. I was saying to myself, ‘I want to get 50,’” O’Neal explained. “I was really trying to go for 50. But I got called for three (bogus) fouls.”
Karl Malone added 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, (14-3), who improved to 10-0 this season at the Staples Center, where they have not dropped a regular-season game since Feb. 16 against New York.
“We’re playing our defense extremely well right now,” said Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant, who finished with 12 points. “What’s impressed me the most is probably the consistency. We’re getting after teams night in and night out.
“Tonight we really didn’t turn it up,” he added. “We kind of had it in cruise control.”
The Lakers never trailed en route to their sixth win overall and snapped the Pacers’ eight-game road winning streak.
Al Harrington collected 18 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and Jermaine O’Neal chipped in with 14 points for Indiana, (14-3), which shot just 39 percent.
“This is the best team we’ve played so far,” Harrington said.
Added Pacers coach Rick Carlisle: “They’re an exceptional, exceptional team right now.
They’re clicking on all cylinders. Everybody’s talking about their offense but tonight, defensively they impressed me even more so.”
Los Angeles held a 46-37 half-time lead, despite receiving only five points from O’Neal, who sat out the second quarter.
“They played 19 minutes without Shaq in the first half and had a nine-point lead,” Carlisle added: “Admittedly, we didn’t play our best, but they had a lot to do with it.”
O’Neal started the second half and flexed his muscles, scoring 10 points as the Lakers opened a 20-point lead.
“He’s a dominant player,” Pacers’ O’Neal said.
“Dominant players always find a way to get back on the court. In the third quarter, he just kind of took over. He was definitely the difference in the third quarter.”
The Lakers’ cushion was 68-51 heading into the final quarter as they coasted to lopsided win.
“They played at a very high level and we just weren’t up to it for a full 48 minutes,” Carlisle said. “They’re the best team we’ve seen at this point.”
Sacramento Kings 105 New Jersey Nets 92: Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points and the host Kings crushed the Nets to extend their winning streak to eight in a row.
Brad Miller collected 20 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento, (12-4), which has won 17 consecutive games at home, including a perfect 10-0 this season at Arco Arena. Vlade Divac had 15 points, Mike Bibby, 14, and Doug Christie had 12.
Reserve Rodney Rogers scored 23 points for the Nets, who trailed 60-28 at half-time, and never threatened the rest of the way. Kenyon Martin had 18 points, while Jason Kidd added 13 points and 10 assists.
