Clippers Collapse In 2nd Half

By KEN PETERS

Shaquille O'Neal had 28 points and 15 rebounds and Kobe Bryant scored 25 points with seven assists Friday night as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 110-80 to snap a two-game losing streak.

The victory also kept a streak going for Lakers coach Phil Jackson -- his teams haven't lost three in a row since January 1995, when he was coaching Chicago and Michael Jordan was playing baseball.

The loss snapped a three-game win streak by the Clippers (12-11). They were coming off a 114-94 blowout of Seattle on Wednesday, a night after the SuperSonics beat the Lakers 104-93.

After starting the season 16-1, the Lakers lost at Sacramento before also losing to Seattle.

Backup center Stanislav Medvedenko added a career-high 18 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers, who outscored the Clippers 38-15 in the fourth quarter.

Lamar Odom had 17 points and Jeff McInnis 15 for the Clippers. Their leading scorer this season, Elton Brand, was held to five points -- 15 below his average.

The Clippers held a narrow lead through much of the first three quarters, but O'Neal's free throw with 2:57 left in the third started an 11-1 run that put the Lakers up 72-62 with 1:03 left in the quarter.

The Lakers led 72-65 to start the final period and then pulled away.

Although both teams play at Staples Center, the Lakers were the home team and dropped the Clippers' road record to 0-6.

The Clippers got balanced scoring in the first half to lead at the break, with 5-foot-5 Earl Boykins sinking a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer for a 48-44 edge.

Michael Olowokandi, who didn't score in the second half, had nine first-half points for the Clippers and reserve Darius Miles added eight.

Bryant helped keep the Lakers close with 10 first-half points, while O'Neal, who didn't score his first points until midway through the second quarter, had seven points by halftime.

The Clippers led 26-23 at the end of the first period. O'Neal spent all but the first four minutes of the quarter on the bench after drawing his second foul. He finished the game with three.

The Lakers lead the all-time series 113-37, including a 98-93 victory on Nov. 20. The Clippers won one of four meetings last season, a 118-95 victory onJan. 7.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Kobe Bryant netted 25 and dished out seven assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Los Angeles Clippers, 110-80, at the Staples Center. The Lakers snapped a two-game losing streak, while the Clippers three-game winning streak was halted.

The Lakers are 12-1 at home this season and have won 18 of their last 19 meetings with the Clippers.

Slava Medvedenko scored a career-high 18 points and pulled seven rebounds for the Lakers. O'Neal shot 12-of-22 from the floor, while Bryant made 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

Lamar Odom finished with 17 points to lead the Clippers. Jeff McInnis finished with 15, while Elton Brand led the Clippers with 12 boards.

After trailing 57-53, The Lakers went on an 8-2 run to grab the lead at 61-59 with less than four minutes to play in the third. O'Neal scored six straight points from inside the paint and Derek Fisher drilled a jump shot.

With the score tied at 61-61, the Lakers went on a 11-1 burst to pull ahead 72-62. Bryant buried a 20-foot jump shot and made a reverse layup, O'Neal jammed with two hands, put in a hook shot and hit 1-of-2 free throws and Fisher drained an 18-foot shot.

The Clippers score the last three points of the third quarter and trailed 72-65 heading into the final 12 minutes of play.

The Lakers opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to go ahead 79-65 with 9:00 left in the game. Bryant canned a fade-away jumper from the baseline to cap the spurt.

With 5:37 left in the contest, Bryant drained a pair of free throws to give the Lakers a 91-72 advantage.

O'Neal scored six of the Lakers next 10 points, giving them a 101-76 lead to seal the victory.

Odom and Brand nailed consecutive jumpers, capping a 16-7 burst by the Clippers and giving them a 20-13 advantage with 3:40 to play in the first quarter.

The Lakers scored 10 of the last 16 points in the opening quarter, as the Clippers carried a 26-23 lead into the second stanza.

The Clippers outscored the Lakers 22-21 in the second quarter, taking a 48-44 advantage into the locker room. Michael Olowokandi led the Clippers with nine points, while Bryant poured in 10 to lead the Lakers at the break.

Bryant shot 9-of-18 from the field...Olowokandi didn't score in the second half, but finished with 11 boards...Corey Maggette shot just 1-of-10 from the field for the Clippers...Darius Miles scored 11 points off the Clippers bench.

No Charges Filed Against Olowokandi

"We reviewed the case and determined there is insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, so we are not prosecuting," said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the district attorney.

Olowokandi said he was pleased with the result and that "the whole issue has gone through the hands of the D.A.," but added that he believed the way his case was handled by police was ``definitely disturbing.''

He thought it was unfair that the case even went as far as it did, believing it was because he is a pro athlete.

"I'm not trying to cry victim, but with my name out there, it drew a lot of publicity," he said Friday night before the Clippers' game against the Los Angeles Lakers. "I definitely object to the way it was handled."

Olowokandi, 26, was booked on Dec. 1 for investigation of three felony charges — assault, robbery and false imprisonment — and freed on $50,000 bail.

Gibbons said the district attorney was asked only to file on the assault or spousal abuse allegation.

Shortly after Olowokandi was arrested, former girlfriend Suzanne Ketcham recanted her claims and said she was the aggressor during a fight at the athlete's Manhattan Beach home. Ketcham said she became jealous when she saw him with another woman.