Lakers - No Answers For Payton

February 21, 1999 / 9:52 PM EST / CBS/AP

How do you lose by 30 points at Utah and follow that up with a victory over your playoff nemesis the next day?

"We embarrassed ourselves yesterday on national TV," Olden Polynice said. "We got a second chance today and we wanted to take advantage of it."

Polynice contributed 15 points and a season-high 17 rebounds to go with Gary Payton's 26 points as the Sonics bounced back from their woeful performance in Salt Lake City with a 92-89 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

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The Sonics beat a Lakers team that eliminated them from the NBA playoffs last season, costing coach George Karl his job.

"I've always liked his game," Lakers coach Del Harris said of Polynice. "He competes and he's a good runner."

The Lakers got 27 points and 10 rebounds from Shaquille O'Neal, while Kobe Bryant added 23 points and 13 rebounds. O'Neal took 24 shots and Bryant 20.

O'Neal was upset with the officiating crew of Bennett Salvatore, Gary Benson and Tom Washington. O'Neal thought he was manhandled by Polynice.

"Every team plays hack-a-Shaq defense and I still don't get the calls," the Lakers' massive center said. "I'm going to start to break people up. Whatever it takes. "

"I hope they (the NBA) fine me."

The officials were gone from the arena and not available for questions after O'Neal's comments. NBA officials aren't allowed to comment to the media unless reporters want an interpretation of a call.

Vin Baker had a season-high 19 points, while Detlef Schrempf had 15 points for Seattle.

On Saturday, the Sonics were beaten 110-80 by Utah in a game in which they shot 39 percent and were outrebounded 49-28. In Sunday's game, they shot 44 percent and broke a two-game losing streak.

"We played with emotion and fire today," Baker said. "That carried ovr into our rebounding."

Polynice, a 12-year veteran who was signed as a free agent by Seattle Jan. 21, was the difference for the Sonics against the Lakers, coach Paul Westphal said.

"He gave us everything that we hoped for," Westphal said. "You can't overemphasize of making O'Neal work for every basket."

The Sonics led by 14 points at halftime and kept their lead throughout the second half, although two free throws by O'Neal with 2:37 left cut Seattle's lead to 82-77. Schrempf responded by hitting a 17-footer and Baker followed with an 18-footer with 1:32 left to increase the Sonics' lead to 86-77.

When the high-jumping Bryant sank his only 3-pointer of the game with 1:23 left, the Sonics' lead was down to six points. Baker made an alley oop dunk on a pass from Schrempf with 33.5 seconds left and Derek Harper of the Lakers hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

In the third quarter, the Sonics led 65-50 when Baker drew his fourth foul and had to leave the game. The Lakers then went on a 9-0 run, capped by a layup by O'Neal, to cut Seattle's lead to 65-59 with 1:59 left.

Hersey Hawkins and Payton made two free throws each in the final 43 seconds to give Seattle a 71-64 lead after three periods.

The Sonics led at the half 46-37.

Notes: The Lakers started Harper at point guard in place of Derek Fisher, who was the starter in Los Angeles' first nine games. ... Forward Travis Knight started for Los Angeles after missing Friday night's game against San Antonio with a sprained left ankle. ... Baker made 1-of-3 free throws. For the season, the four-time All-Star is 3-for-25 from the free throw line. ... The Lakers lost for the third straight Sunday. They lost the previous two Sundays at home against Utah and Indiana. "What I don't like is becoming Sunday's Washington Generals," said Lakers coach Del Harris.