Shaq's 39 Lifts Lakers

Shaquille O'Neal scored 22 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter Sunday night, rallying the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

O'Neal had 14 rebounds as the Lakers beat the Clippers for the 14th consecutive time dating back more than three years.

Isaiah Rider gave the Lakers a boost coming off the bench, scoring 15 of his 22 points to help them overcome a five-point deficit early in the fourth quarter.

Kobe Bryant added 21 points for the Lakers.

The Clippers, who have the league's second-youngest team behind Chicago, were not intimidated by the defending NBA champions, staying in the game all the way.

Second-year pro Lamar Odom had 19 points, 15 rebounds and six assists for the Clippers. Jeff McInnis also had 19 points, and Tyrone Nesby added 17.

Rider started the comeback when he hit an off-balance 3-pointer to barely beat the shot clock. Bryant made a pair of free throws, then O'Neal and Robert Horry scored on layups before Rider hit a 12-footer and free throw.

The Clippers led 68-65 heading into the final quarter, with Byant's 18-footer at the third-quarter buzzer narrowing the gap to three points.

Playing on the floor both teams call home, the Lakers led by as many as 13, 34-21 three minutes into the second quarter. But the Clippers chipped away, running off a 15-5 string over the next six minutes to cut it to 48-45 by halftime.

While Bryant had 12 first-half points and O'Neal 10 to lead the Lakers, the Clippers kept it close with extremely balanced scoring

none of the Clippers were in double figures, but all who played scored.

Free throws in the first two quarters also helped the Clippers stay close, although they made only 10-of-19. The Lakers shot just twice from the line, with Bryant making their only free throw of the first half.

But the Clippers finished the game just 17-of-30 from the line, while the Lakers finished 26-for-36.

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