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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

O’Neal takes time to check out Lakers

Associated Press

Shaquille O’Neal dropped in on the last-place Los Angeles Lakers, soaked up a standing ovation, and split before his former team eked out a win over the Charlotte Bobcats.

If he had stuck around, O’Neal would have seen Kobe Bryant make two free throws with 7 seconds remaining for a 99-98 victory Sunday night in Los Angeles.

O’Neal created a stir when he strode to his courtside seat during a timeout late in the second quarter. The quiet crowd suddenly erupted when O’Neal’s smiling face was shown on the overhead screen.

“I didn’t see him, but I heard the noise and wondered what was going on,” coach Phil Jackson said. “It was great he came by.”

O’Neal was in town ahead of Miami’s game against the Clippers on Monday. He is recovering from a sprained ankle and left at halftime.

At first, Bryant said he hadn’t spotted O’Neal, with whom he shared a tenuous relationship during their years in Los Angeles. Then he admitted he had, but said the big man’s presence had “zero” effect on the Lakers.

Bryant’s 9-for-30 shooting didn’t help matters, but he made 11 of 12 free throws and finished with 29 points.

“We were sluggish,” he said. “Physically, it was tough to get going. My legs felt like they were in cement. I just had to keep pushing, pushing, pushing.”

Jackson said, “He has to shoot better than that if he’s going to take that many shots.”

Sonics’ Lewis charged with DUI

Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis was charged Monday with drunken driving, resulting from an arrest on Interstate 90 in late September.

Lewis, 26, was driving one of five cars speeding eastbound together at about 3 a.m. Sept. 30, Washington State Patrol Trooper Curt G. Boyle wrote in an investigation report filed in King County Superior Court. Boyle wrote he tried to pull over all five vehicles, which were traveling at up to 84 mph, but only two stopped.

One, a 700-series BMW, was driven by Lewis, whose eyes were watery and speech was slurred, Boyle wrote. Lewis failed a field sobriety test and was taken to the Mercer Island Police Department, where he registered a 0.132 and 0.122 on successive breath tests, Boyle said. The intoxication threshold in Washington is 0.08.

“I have been charged with a traffic offense involving alcohol. I have cooperated fully with the police during the investigation. Since the charge is pending, my attorney and I are working together to resolve this situation. In the meantime, I do not have any further comment and I look forward to the matter being resolved soon,” Lewis said in a statement released by the team.

The driver of the other car that stopped, Gregory S. Stern, also was charged with drunken driving.

Lewis, a forward who has scored 20 points in six consecutive games, faces a maximum of a year in jail, a $5,000 fine and a 90-day license suspension if convicted as charged.

“This incident happened before the season and we’re looking forward to this matter being resolved soon,” Seattle general manager Rick Sund added in the statement.

Bucks’ Smith out for a while

Milwaukee Bucks forward Joe Smith will have surgery on his left knee today and be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

John Heinrich, the team’s orthopedic surgeon, will perform the arthroscopic procedure to remove loose cartilage that has caused persistent swelling and pain since training camp.

The Bucks signed forward Josh Davis, who originally signed with them Oct. 2 and played in one game before being waived Nov. 24.

Pro game evolving

One of the biggest and most subtle changes in the NBA has been the increasing use of small lineups, especially the three-guard variety.

“(Hornets coach) Byron Scott just called me and he told me his best team is Speedy (Claxton), Chris Paul and Desmond Mason,” Larry Brown was saying last week after his Knicks outlasted the Bulls with a three-guard group of Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury doing the damage. “More and more teams are doing that to take advantage of the 3-point line and playing like they do in Europe: Penetrate and kick. They don’t have true post players overseas and you find it happening more and more here.

“When I was growing up, every game you have two unbelievable centers banging each other and you had to guard the post. Now it’s a lot of different matchups.”