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| | Tuesday, 21 May, 2002, 06:46 GMT 07:46 UK Kings level series Webber (rt) was a dominant figure on the night Western Conference finals: Sacramento Kings 96-90 LA Lakers (Kings tie the best-of-seven series 1-1) Chris Webber scored 21 points to add to his opening game 28 as the Sacramento Kings levelled their final series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Mike Bibby added 20 as the Kings ended the 12-game road play-off winning streak - the longest in NBA history - of the two-time defending champions. But having won the opener in Sacramento in the best-of-seven series, the Lakers remain favourites as they return home for games three and four on Friday and Sunday. Star centre Shaquille O'Neal scored 35 points and dominated inside while Kobe Bryant, doubtful beforehand with food poisoning, contributed 22 points.
Together they sparked a 16-4 run in the final minutes that nearly caught the Kings. But Sacramento had enough in the tank to inflict the first play-off defeat on the Lakers since 16 June 2000, when they lost at Indiana. "It lets us know we're as good as we think we are," Webber said. "It's finally sinking in. It's something you have to go through mentally and physically but finally we are putting it on the court. "If we keep playing as hard as we can the whole game, we will always have a chance." Lakers coach Phil Jackson, meanwhile, is hoping Bryant and O'Neal - the latter dogged by hand and foot injuries - will stay healthy in their quest for a third consecutive NBA title. "Shaq and Kobe can use this rest period," Jackson said. "I foresee a very competitive game this weekend in LA."
The Kings stretched their lead to 89-74 with six minutes remaining, but the Lakers rallied to score the next eight points as Sacramento missed five shots in a row. Bibby sank a crucial three-pointer with just under three minutes left to halt the slide, but even then the Lakers responded with the next five points to make it a nervous finish. But O'Neal's failure to nail a free throw - he made only five-of-11 in the game - including just three-from-six in the closing minutes, proved crucial. Bryant's three-pointer with 12 seconds left brought the Lakers to within three points, but further free throws from Webber and two from Bobby Jackson saw the Kings hold out. Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who guided Chicago to six titles in eight years, took heart from his side's late surge however. "We missed some foul shots in the fourth quarter but other than that I liked what we were doing," he added. | |
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