Lakers hit rallying point of no return

In a season already filled with unbelievables, why not add a come-from-behind victory after trailing by 26 points? Stephen Jackson wouldn’t let it happen. The Lakers almost pulled off the

unfathomable, but Jackson reeled off a pair of long -- verrrry long -- three-pointers to drive the Golden State Warriors to a 115-111 victory Sunday at Staples Center. It was tense, it was

stirring and it cost the Lakers (48-22) sole possession of first place in the Western Conference. They are now virtually tied with New Orleans (47-21) and half a game ahead of resurgent

Phoenix (47-22). It was almost their best comeback since rallying from a 30-point deficit to beat Dallas in December 2002, and they displayed unmistakable feistiness after their ludicrous

defensive effort handed the Warriors a 75-49 lead less than a minute into the third quarter. But the Lakers were a little short on healthy players and 26-foot three-point defense, which

ended up being the difference against the run-and-fun Warriors. Jackson struck with 38.5 seconds and 8.1 seconds to play, twice turning one-point leads into four-point cushions with

three-pointers launched more than two feet beyond the arc. After winning three consecutive games, the Lakers were left talking about what could have been, while analyzing a strange game

against an even stranger opponent that might turn out to be their first-round draw in the playoffs. “They’re so unorthodox. They’re basically what Phoenix used to be on steroids,” Kobe

Bryant said dryly. “They all just jack it up. They can all handle it, they can all pass. It’s pretty unbelievable.” Jackson finished with 31 points for the Warriors. Bryant had 36 points, 14

rebounds and eight assists. Lamar Odom took a career-high 22 rebounds but made only six of 19 shots on the way to 19 points. The Lakers also fell to 1-2 against a team that hasn’t taken a

season series against them since 1994-95. In fact, the Lakers had won 14 of 15 against the Warriors before falling apart toward the end of a 108-106 loss in December. There were other

moments of concern for the Lakers, including some words exchanged between Jordan Farmar and Ronny Turiaf. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson noticed, and disapproved. “I thought there were some

disturbances tonight where players didn’t play team basketball and other players picked up on it at times,” he said. “But that happens in games that are highly emotional like this. They’re

young players and they’re still learning how to keep their mouth shut and take advice and not retort immediately.” There isn’t much time to dwell on mounting issues -- the Lakers and the

eighth-place Warriors (43-26) play again tonight in Oakland. The Lakers had an unsightly 14 turnovers in the first half and trailed, 72-49. There were even a few boos after Luke Walton

committed turnovers on consecutive possessions in the second quarter. The fans’ ire surfaced again at the end of the quarter after the Lakers missed three shots in the final 10 seconds.

Derek Fisher’s hot hand -- 10 third-quarter points -- helped pull the Lakers to within 87-81 going into the fourth quarter, and Bryant’s two free throws gave the Lakers a 99-97 lead with

5:08 to play. Bryant scored 10 points in the final 1:48, including a long three-pointer with 30.5 seconds left that pulled the Lakers to within 112-111, but it wasn’t enough to counteract

the Warriors’ Jackson, whose second 26-footer came after a surprisingly open look. Fisher and Odom “just didn’t fire out at him,” Phil Jackson said. “They just let him set up. If he walks

into shots, Jackson has range.” The Lakers coach then tried to determine why his team had a first-half lapse. “It was Easter Sunday. I didn’t have a shoot-around [Sunday] morning. Sometimes

you have to honor the day,” he said. “It was one of those things where they weren’t focused when they came.” It cost them a victory. To be continued, tonight in Oakland. --

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