KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
New Laker Karl Malone slammed in two points last night.
Lakers’ new
stars shinePayton and Malone, in their
first game with their new team,
help L.A. to a 107-89 win
Perhaps the only thing brighter than the star power on the floor for the Los Angeles Lakers last night were the flashbulbs popping around the Stan Sheriff Center when the team took the court.
The combination of Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton didn't disappoint the sellout crowd in their first game together as Lakers teammates, leading Los Angeles to a 107-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA preseason opener for both teams.
The teams meet again today at 6 p.m. at the Sheriff Center to close out the two-game series. As of last night, there were approximately 100 tickets left for tonight's game.
"It's just the first game, but we're hoping the joy and camaraderie will spread as the season goes along," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
O'Neal scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the third quarter, while Payton recorded 12 points and seven assists in his Lakers debut. Malone finished with seven points and three rebounds and Derek Fisher chipped in with 10 points.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal dunked with authority at the Stan Sheriff Center last night.
Golden State guard Jason Richardson led all scorers with 20 points, while Clifford Robinson added 15.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, nursing a sore knee, did some shooting in the arena before the game, but did not make an appearance during the contest. According to Lakers spokesman John Black, Bryant was working out in the weight room during the game. Bryant is scheduled to appear in a Colorado courtroom tomorrow regarding his sexual assault case.
But the Bryant case was put aside for a night as the Lakers unveiled a lineup led by three future hall of famers.
While much of the focus of the Lakers camp has been the addition of Payton and Malone, the Warriors are also getting used to playing together with just five players from last year's squad back on the 18-player preseason roster. Two of the returnees, Adonal Foyle and Troy Murphy, were injured and did not play.
Richardson, one of the Warriors' holdovers, warmed up the crowd by scoring the game's first two buckets on a lob and on a dunk with an assist from Nick Van Exel.
Richardson kept the Warriors in the contest by hitting five of seven shots to lead all scorers in the first half with 14 points.
After Lakers' guard Derek Fisher hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Los Angeles its first lead, Golden State went on a 9-0 run to help the Warriors to a 15-10 advantage. But the Lakers responded by scoring the next 14 points, giving them a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.
All five Lakers starters scored during the run, which was sparked by a dunk by O'Neal, his only points of the first half.
The Lakers opened up a 48-31 advantage in the second quarter as reserves Jannero Pargo and Stanislav Medvedenko combined to carry L.A. on a 10-0 spurt.
Golden State fought back late in the half and Mike Dunleavy's 3-pointer from the top of the key cut the Los Angeles advantage to 50-46.
The Warriors came out cold to begin the third quarter and the Lakers reclaimed control with a 60-48 lead on a layup by Payton.
O'Neal got the crowd roaring with a two-minute stretch in which he spun past Erick Dampier for a dunk, hit a jumper just before the shot clock expired and swatted away a Mike Dunleavy shot.
Although Robinson hit three 3-pointers in the same span for the Warriors, the Lakers took an 81-68 lead into the fourth quarter.
Lakers rookie Luke Walton's first NBA bucket gave Los Angeles a 93-74 lead and the Warriors did not threaten again. He punctuated the win with a dunk with 19 seconds left.
Star-Bulletin reporter Cindy Luis contributed to this report.
