SEATTLE, May 12 -- Shaquille O'Neal scored 31 points and his teammates made 13 three-pointers Tuesday as the Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time in seven years with a 110-95 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. The Lakers roared to four straight wins after losing the series opener and will face the Utah Jazz beginning on Saturday.
The Jazz eliminated the Lakers in five games in last year's conference semifinals. Despite Seattle switching to Sam Perkins in the pivot, O'Neal again was an unstoppable force inside, shooting 12-of-17 from the field. He added nine rebounds and a playoff career-high eight blocked shots. The Lakers shot 56 percent (36-of-64) from the field, including 13- of-24 from 3-point range. Rick Fox made five from behind the arc and scored 17 points. Nick Van Exel added four and 15 points. Los Angeles shot a blistering 74 percent in the first half, when it led by as many as 18 points before settling for a 62-50 lead at halftime. The SuperSonics never recovered, trailing by at least seven points thereafter.