Shaq Sends Rockets To The Moon

February 6, 1999 / 4:44 AM EST / AP

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant played as if the NBA season had started on time.

O'Neal had 30 points and 14 rebounds, and Bryant added 25 points and a career-high 10 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 99-91 Friday night.

The Lakers borrowed a page from the Rockets in opening the abbreviated NBA season. They hit eight 3-pointers against a Houston team known for its long-range shooting.

Charles Barkley appeared in midseason form, both in scoring and jawing. He led the Rockets with 31 points and 15 rebounds, and took time out to utter expletives at fans in the third quarter when his dunk briefly tied the game. When the crowd responded with a shouted putdown, he paused between converting free throws to cup his hands around his ears in a taunting motion.

Scottie Pippen, who brought the six NBA championship rings he earned in Chicago to Houston on Jan. 22, had 10 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals in his Rockets debut. But he was only 4-for-18 from the field.

O'Neal won the battle of No. 34 jerseys against Hakeem Olajuwon, who fouled out with 11 points and seven rebounds with 2:18 remaining.

The Lakers clung to a one-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter. But they opened the final period with a 13-4 run, including 3-pointers by newly signed veteran Derek Harper and Bryant, a projected sixth man who started in place of injured Rick Fox.

Harper finished with 16 points off the bench, including a 3-pointer that increased the Lakers' lead to 88-76 with 5:32 to play. But the Rockets rallied with eight straight points, including four by rookie Michael Dickerson, to get within four with 4:19 left.

The Rockets again were within four with 1:30 remaining, but Bryant hit four straight free throws to keep the game out of reach.

The Lakers opened the third period by outscoring the Rockets 13-3 to regain the lead, 56-49. O'Neal capped the spurt with a 9-footer.

Fueled by Barkley's 10 points in the period, the Rockets tied the game at 56 on his dunk and twice cut their deficit to one point, including 68-67 on a 16-footer by Matt Bullard heading into the final 12 minutes.

Los Angeles ran off nine straight points for its largest lead, 39-27, with six minutes left in the second quarter. But the Rockets responded with a 19-4 spurt that put them ahead 46-43 at halftime.

A friendly crowd, given free compact discs featuring NBA music, welcomed back the players.

Notes: Lakers forward Robert Horry missed opening night to be with his wife in Houston, where Keva Horry gave birth to the couple's second child 4½ hours prior to tipoff. Robert Camron Horry weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces. Horry will return to play in Sunday's game against Utah at the Forum. ... Magic Johnson addressed the crowd prior to tipoff, saying, "We want to just say thank you for your patience, welcome back and we hope that you enjoy yourself all season ong. Thank you, thank you, thank you." ... Pippen's acquisition reunites him with fellow 1996 Olympians Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. They were part of the gold medal-winning team. ... Fox, the only Laker to start all 82 games last season, sat out with a sore right foot. ... Houston was the last team to beat the Lakers on an opening night, winning 126-121 in double overtime on Nov. 1, 1991.