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SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Shaquille O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers ignored the local civil unrest, handing the Seattle SuperSonics their first home loss with a 101-77 rout while protesters continued rioting against the World Trade Organization meetings outside KeyArena. In a game that was nearly cancelled due to a state of emergency in Seattle with protesters being bombarded with tear gas, the SuperSonics put forth their worst effort of the season. "I didn't think (the Sonics) were on their feet," Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said. "I didn't think they played to the same aggresiveness after the first quarter. I heard they had to stay in hotels rather than their homes. That makes it kind of a road game for them, so they are still undefeated at home as far as I'm concerned." O'Neal continued his offensive explosion with 27 points in 33 minutes as the Lakers posted their sixth win in eight games to snap Seattle's seven-game home winning streak. The Sonics were 6-0 here this season. Ironically, Seattle's last loss at KeyArena was a 91-84 setback to O'Neal and the Lakers on May 2 of the lockout-shortened season. O'Neal, who scored 30 or more points in each of his previous six games, connected on 11-of-19 shots and 5-of-9 free throws and sat out most of the fourth quarter. "He looked a litte winded at the end of the third quarter and I wanted to give him a little blow," Jackson said. "The game disintegrated and we were able to sit him the rest of the way." Glen Rice collected 19 points and fueled a decisive 19-4 run in the second quarter, when the Lakers outscored the Sonics, 29-16, to take a commanding 52-39 lead at the half. Seattle never got within single digits again. "We were ready. We did a terrific job on both ends of the floor tonight," Rice said. "We were coming in against a really good basketball club and we didn't want to come out and dig ourselves a hole. I think we were able to stay focused and maintain. We controlled the tempo of the game." Ruben Patterson scored 19 points and Gary Payton and Vin Baker managed just 12 each on identical 5-of-14 shooting for the Sonics, who suffered just their second loss in eight games. "It would have been more fun to go down to Nordstrom (department store) and protest than to play that game," Seattle coach Paul Westphal said. "That was a pretty bad performance. Give the Lakers credit, give us the blame. After a nice first six minutes, I don't think we did anything right the rest of the game." Vernon Maxwell, who has sparkled off the bench all season for the Sonics, looked lost tonight. He misfired on 10-of-11 shots as Seattle shot 39 percent (31-of-79), including 1-of-9 from 3-point range. "I don't think you can judge our team by the way we played tonight," Maxwell said. "The Lakers came in and had a big game and this was probably the worst game we'll have all year." Ron Harper scored 12 points and A.C. Green added 10 for the Lakers, who shot 52 percent (40-of-77) and held a 44-42 advantage on the boards. The game was knotted at 23-23 after one quarter and Sonics went ahead, 31-27, with 9:02 left in the first half on a follow shot by Baker. But O'Neal scored six points during a 16-4 burst that gave the Lakers a 43-36 cushion with 2:26 left in the half.
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