TRIPLE PLAYS / The Big 3

Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice have been the driving force behind the Lakers’ success. How they fared:

O’NEAL

*--*

Tue. Season 23 Points 27.8 10 Rebounds 14.1 1 Assists 3.8

*--*

BRYANT

*--*

Tue. Season 22 Points 22.2 7 Rebounds 5.9 3 Assists 4.5

*--*

RICE

*--*

Tue. Season 9 Points 16.5 0 Rebounds 4.0 1 Assists 2.1

*--*

The Top 3

Best records in the NBA:

LAKERS

Record 46-11

Tue. d. Portland, 90-87

Wed. vs. Vancouver

*

PORTLAND

Record 45-11

Tue. l. Lakers, 90-87

Fri. vs. Vancouver

*

INDIANA

Record 39-17

Tue. d. Detroit, 115-105

Thu. at Phoenix

A LOOK BACK

* PORTLAND 95, LAKERS 91

* Jan. 22 at Staples Center--Steve Smith blocked Glen Rice’s potential game-tying shot with 30 seconds left as Portland outscored the Lakers, 22-9, in the final eight minutes.

* LAKERS 93, PORTLAND 80

* Dec. 3 at Staples Center--In his second game since returning from a broken hand, Kobe Bryant scored 23 points and made a big block of Scottie Pippen’s shot with two minutes remaining.

* PORTLAND 93, LAKERS 80

* Nov. 6 at Portland--Pippen scored 17 points in the first half as the Trail Blazers took a 55-45 halftime lead and were never seriously threatened. Shaquille O’Neal was ejected with 9:40 remaining and the Lakers trailing, 77-70.