Lakers Cry Foul

By SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER

May 7, 1997 12 AM PT

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

SALT LAKE CITY — The scorer’s table emerged undamaged. The Lakers, that could be another matter.

Their bid to tie the Western Conference semifinals ended in outrage and, ultimately, silence Tuesday night. Not unlike the silence of referee Jack Nies’ whistle, a non-call at the buzzer that the Lakers will insist cost them Game 2 to the Utah Jazz, 103-101. Antoine Carr’s two free throws with 2.1 seconds left before 19,911 at the Delta Center wasted Robert Horry’s NBA playoff record of seven three-point baskets without a miss.

Nick Van Exel was going for one of his own from behind the arc in the final second, the potential game winner that would have evened the best-of-seven series as it moved to the Forum on Thursday. The Laker guard, straightaway and sandwiched between defenders Karl Malone and John Stockton, got as far as going up for the shot from about 25 feet when the ball flew out of his hands, and time expired.

Van Exel immediately started hitting his left forearm, insisting that he had been hit by Malone--a contention supported by television replays. He then went over to argue with Nies, a veteran official. His anger turned to frustration, Van Exel kicked the front of the scorer’s table, protected by a thick plastic covering and, judging by its look, already the innocent victim of tirades past.

Jerome Kersey and Coach Del Harris shouted at the three-man crew as the officials prepared to leave. Shaquille O’Neal, his 7-foot frame towering, looked down upon them and had his say.

The Lakers were furious, evidence that could not be mistaken even as the capacity crowd that had lustily booed the referees poured the same displeasure down on Van Exel et al. That’s why Malone, asked after his game-high 31 points if it was a good call by Nies, responded:

“Considering what happened all night, it was.”

The Jazz may have been made, but the Lakers were boiling. Harris refused to come to the postgame interview room. Van Exel posted a sign over his locker that read, “Nothing personal, just ‘no comment.’ ” When Horry, who finished with 21 points and also tied Van Exel’s team playoff record of seven three-pointers, emerged from the shower and was swarmed by the media, Eddie Jones tossed in a “Leave it alone.”

“I don’t think anyone wants to get fined,” Van Exel said.

It was a crushing end for the Lakers, who had fought back from a nine-point deficit early in the third quarter before rallying to within 94-93 with 5:57 remaining. The Jazz surged again, making it 99-93.

Back came the Lakers. Back-to-back three-point plays, by O’Neal and Byron Scott, got them a 101-101 tie with 42.5 seconds remaining. When Malone missed a jumper, they even had a chance to go ahead, but O’Neal’s eight-footer along the right baseline with about 15 seconds left was short, one of his 15 misses in 25 attempts.

The Jazz grabbed the rebound and, without taking a timeout, moved the ball upcourt, relying on the composure of veterans. No wonder. Stockton penetrated, getting deep into the lane before dishing off to Carr, who went up and was fouled by Horry.

The Lakers called time out before the free throws. Carr, 78% from the line during the regular season, got time to think about his biggest trip.

“He [Harris] gave me a lot of time to think about it and I think that helped me a little bit in stepping to the free-throw line and feeling good,” Carr said. “It was an easy two, I thought.”

He made it look that way. Carr, returning from the brief rest, swished both with 2.1 showing, his only points of the game.

The Lakers called time out again. Returning to action, Kersey threw the ball in from midcourt along the right sideline. Van Exel caught the pass and made a quick spin to the middle. He went for the heroics, for the win in the game and the tie in the series.

He got neither.

So ended a night when Horry, at 25% shooting in the previous five playoff games, a statistic that would belie his past postseason successes with the Houston Rockets, broke through, joined by Scott. It was the reserve shooting guard, after all, who had played only eight minutes in Game 1 and eight in the finale of the first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, and then went for 24 points in 25 minutes of Game 2.

Horry’s showing, though, was especially lost. No one had ever been more accurate on three-pointers in a playoff game, the previous best being five of five by Mario Elie only the night before, Brad Davis in 1986, Scott in ’81 and Nate McMillan in ’96. And only one Laker, Van Exel against the Seattle SuperSonics on May 14, 1995, had ever made seven in any postseason game no matter the number of attempts.

It was a much-needed infusion, for Horry and all the Lakers. But especially when O’Neal, going for vindication after making only six of 16 shots on Sunday, made 10 of 25 shots, still good enough for 25 points and 12 rebounds. Foul trouble also limited him to one minute in the third quarter and 35 in all.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NBA PLAYOFFS

LAKERS vs. JAZZ

* MAD FINISH

For the seething Lakers, there was silence and no question about a questionable non-call. C7

* KNIGHT, BRYANT CHOSEN

The Lakers’ Travis Knight and Kobe Bryant are selected to the all-rookie team. C8

* GAME IN REVIEW: C7

OTHER SERIES

* Chicago 100, Atlanta 97

Overcoming poor play and Dennis Rodman’s ejection, the Bulls survived on a Scottie Pippen basket. C8

* NBA BRACKET: C8