Now They Get to Give It a Rest

PORTLAND, Ore. â€”  One series behind them, the Lakers won’t play until Sunday, by which time there should be a lot less limping going on.

Shaquille O’Neal’s toe is sore. Kobe Bryant’s ribs are bruised. Ron Harper’s knee could use six more days. Brian Shaw has a bum shin and Rick Fox has a tight hamstring. The rest are healthy or aging.

While Phoenix and Sacramento play on--the Kings lead the series, 2-1--the Lakers wait. And heal.

“I feel OK,� Bryant said. “A little banged up. But these days off will help me recover a little.�

Part of the motivation of the series sweep against the Portland Trail Blazers were the next six days. The team won’t practice today and should be more rested than whatever opponent shows up Sunday.

“Although a coach is always worried about lengthy layoffs, especially in the playoffs when you’re not used to this kind of time off in the course of the season,� Laker Coach Phil Jackson said. “You lose your rhythm. For us, we’ve got enough players who are recovering, or getting better and healthier, that it should work well for us at this time.�

Harper, who had knee surgery March 21, suited up for Sunday’s game but did not play. He should be available for the next series.

“It’s a chance to recuperate,� Bryant said, “and see if we can’t get old man Harper back.�

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Derek Fisher played 114 minutes in the series and did not commit a turnover.

“Against a team like this, you don’t expect that at all,� Fisher said. “They’re so long and so athletic and cause so many problems on the offensive end. Our team, for the most part, didn’t go through long stretches where we made a lot of bad plays.�

He finished the series with 16 rebounds and 14 assists.

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O’Neal scored fewer than 31 points for only the second time in 14 games, but it didn’t shake him.

“My game is like Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson’s latest movie,� O’Neal said. “ ‘Unbreakable.’ �

--TIM BROWN

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How well are the Lakers going?

In the first quarter, they were trailing by six points with 0.6 of a second remaining, and they tried to throw the ball into O’Neal, but he was triple-teamed, so Shaw just winged it out to Devean George.

Who made a 25-footer at the buzzer for three points.

It was only George’s fourth basket of the series. But he felt it.

“I knew they would be packing in on Shaq, and I knew I would have a good look,� he said. “Last year I never got those kinds of plays. This year, they have more confidence in me. It’s like that for a lot of guys around here. We’re all playing as a team.�