LOS ANGELES, April 26 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal collected 31 points and 14 rebounds Thursday night as the Los Angeles Lakers took a commanding 2-0 lead in its NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series after a 103-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, who again demonstrated the lack of composure that has become their trademark.
The defending world champions never trailed and opened up an 18-8 lead on a three-pointer by Kobe Bryant and a jumper by Derek Fisher. A three-point play by Fisher opened up a 48-34 lead with just over three minutes left in the first half and the outcome was never really in question.
Scottie Pippen and Bryant got tangled up for a loose ball midway through the third quarter, which caused players from both teams to converge. That merely served to fire up the Lakers as Bryant and O'Neal did all the scoring in a 9-2 spurt that made the count 67-50 with 4:12 to go in the third.
"I like a physical game," said O'Neal.
"When they play physical with me, they're just playing into my hands. My guys are looking for me down low and I just did what I do."
Bryant capped the run with a technical foul shot after Dale Davis was ejected. Davis fouled O'Neal and protested by kicking the ball into the stands for his second technical. All that was left was a technical foul by volatile Portland forward Rasheed Wallace, who picked up the Blazers' fourth with 2:44 remaining.
"We lost a little composure in there tonight," said Portland Coach Maurice Cheeks. "I'm a little disappointed that we did it because for the most part, we have been pretty good all year
long and the first game, so it is something that needs to be addressed and it was addressed."
The Blazers actually made a late charge and Pippen's three-pointer capped a 19-4 run to cut the deficit to 98-92 with 1:43 remaining.
Portland got the ball back and had a chance to get closer, but Steve Kerr inexplicably launched an off-balance three-pointer that he misfired.
The Lakers made 5-of-6 foul shots to seal the deal.
Bryant finished with 19 points despite a horrific shooting night, making only 5-of-21 attempts. Fisher netted 18 points and Rick Fox added 13.
But O'Neal was again the dominant force for Los Angeles. He made 12-of-20 shots and helped the Lakers hold a 52-38 edge in points in the paint.
"It's playoff time and nothing can break my composure or break my spirits," O'Neal said. "We should have beat this team by
20."
Wallace poured in 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Portland, which has lost six straight playoff games to Los Angeles. Pippen fouled out with 20 and nine, but the Trail Blazers shot just 29.5 percent (13-of-44) in the first half.
Portland was also hammered on the glass as Los Angeles held a comfortable 48-35 edge.
