OAKLAND, Calif., March 15 (UPI) -- A riled-up Shaquille O'Neal scored nine straight points after taking a flagrant foul from Danny Fortson late in the fourth quarter powering the Los Angeles Lakers to a 110-102 victory over the reeling Golden State Warriors Thursday night.
Golden State beat the undermanned Lakers here on Dec. 26 and forged a 92-92 tie in this one on an alley-oop layup by Fortson with 3:43 remaining.
Moments later, however, Fortson got tangled up with O'Neal and was called for a flagrant foul, his sixth.
O'Neal made two free throws with 3:29 left to put Los Angeles ahead for good. He converted two more from the line, dunked and converted a three-point play before gesturing to the crowd heading into a timeout.
O'Neal had 40 points and 13 rebounds, reaching the 40-point mark for the third time in his last five games. He and fellow All-Star Kobe Bryant -- not in the lineup on Dec. 26 -- helped the Lakers defeat the Warriors for the 22nd time in the last 27 meetings.
Bryant contributed 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Rick Fox scored 16 points for Los Angeles, which has won three in a row and 10 of its last 12 games.
Antawn Jamison and Jason Richardson scored 23 points apiece for the Warriors, who have lost four straight and 14 of their last 16 games.
