Shaq’s 42 Leads L.A. Over Kings

Around the NBA

Shaquille O’Neal scored a season-high 42 points and grabbed 12 rebounds Thursday night, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Inglewood, Calif.

The Lakers are 3-0 since O’Neal returned after missing two months because of an injured left knee. They have won 10 of their last 12 games overall. Los Angeles remained a half-game behind Pacific Division-leading Seattle, which beat Denver 108-104.

O’Neal was 15 of 31 from the field and a surprising 12 of 14 from the foul line. Normally a poor foul shooter, O’Neal made all 10 of his free throws in the second half.

He is averaging 35 points and 12 rebounds since returning.

Lakers forward Elden Campbell, who had missed five of the team’s previous seven games with a bruised buttock, had 21 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes. He sat out the fourth quarter.

Reserve Sean Rooks added 11 points for the Lakers.

Mitch Richmond led Sacramento with 23 points.

Elsewhere

Reserve Chris Morris scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers in the final quarter, as Utah beat Golden State 106-93 at Salt Lake City.

The Vancouver Grizzlies sustained their 68th loss of the season, bowing to the Portland Trail Blazers 105-73.

The Grizzlies, coming off last year’s expansion-season finish of 15-67, had their record fall to 13-68.

Malone digusted

Carl Malone is appalled at the NBA’s choice of Player of the Week, rookie Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Iverson averaged 44.5 points during a four-game stretch, scoring 40 or more points in five straight games. But his team was 0-5.

“It’s a mockery of the game,” Malone said. “Oh-and-five and you score 40? So what?

“In this game, the name of the game is to win with pride, or to lose with pride.”

Malone’s indignation is nothing new. Earlier, he dubbed certain young players “knuckleheads” for their approach to the game.

Houston’s Charles Barkley and Chicago’s Michael Jordan also have decried the antics of some new players. Jordan said the fans will start seeing it also.

Blazers fine Rider

Portland guard Isiah Rider has been fined by the Trail Blazers for refusing to enter a game.

Rider was benched for the first quarter of Wednesday night’s game against Denver after he was late for two practices. When coach P.J. Carlesimo attempted to put Rider in at the start of the second quarter, the player refused.

Oakley denies charge

Charles Oakley joined Knicks teammate Patrick Ewing in denying accusations of sexual harassment by two flight attendants who later quit working on the club’s private jet. Oakley issued his denial through the Knicks, a day after Ewing.

“Any charges have no merit whatsoever,” Oakley said, adding that he was happy that coach Jeff Van Gundy and his teammates were behind him.