Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal scored a game-high 35 points on 15-of-27 shooting from the field and 5-of-11 shooting from the line. But after the game, O'Neal cried that his team had been the victim of a robbery.
With a white hat pulled low over angry eyes, O'Neal blamed the Lakers' loss on the refereeing. O'Neal was whistled for three offensive fouls -- and the Arco crowd howled for many more. The Lakers got 31 fouls to the Kings' 25.
"In order to beat us, you have to beat us fair and square," O'Neal said. "There's only one way to beat us. It starts with a 'C' and ends with a 'T.' The real basketball fans understand what's going on here." O'Neal said, alleging his team was cheated of a victory.
Cheating accusations aside, the referees couldn't be totally at fault for a mediocre effort by the Lakers -- and a solid performance by the Kings until a hectic fourth quarter. It was just the third defeat in 27 playoff games for the Lakers. The Kings ended the Lakers NBA-playoff record streak of consecutive road victories at 12. They also made their chances of winning the series far more realistic.
With a white hat pulled low over angry eyes, O'Neal blamed the Lakers' loss on the refereeing. O'Neal was whistled for three offensive fouls -- and the Arco crowd howled for many more. The Lakers got 31 fouls to the Kings' 25.
"In order to beat us, you have to beat us fair and square," O'Neal said. "There's only one way to beat us. It starts with a 'C' and ends with a 'T.' The real basketball fans understand what's going on here." O'Neal said, alleging his team was cheated of a victory.
Cheating accusations aside, the referees couldn't be totally at fault for a mediocre effort by the Lakers -- and a solid performance by the Kings until a hectic fourth quarter. It was just the third defeat in 27 playoff games for the Lakers. The Kings ended the Lakers NBA-playoff record streak of consecutive road victories at 12. They also made their chances of winning the series far more realistic.