Basketball: Bryant stars for the Lakers

SAN ANTONIO - Kobe Bryant exploded for 45 points and Shaquille O'Neal added 28 as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-90 in yesterday's opening game of the best-of-seven NBA Western Conference finals.

Bryant, slashing his way to the hoop to score on acrobatic layups and gravity-defying dunks, scored 15 points in the third quarter and made 19-of-35 shots.

The victory was the eighth in a row in the playoffs for the Lakers, who have yet to lose in the post-season. It was also their 16th successive win overall.

"We just kept trying to attack them," said Bryant, who pulled down 10 rebounds, one fewer than O'Neal. "We did a good job of moving the ball, a good job of spacing."

O'Neal said the Lakers were on a mission - "to come here and take one, maybe two games. So far, mission accomplished."

For one match at least, the Lakers' 1-2 punch of Bryant and O'Neal proved better than the San Antonio Spurs' Twin Towers of Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

Double-teamed repeatedly, Duncan collected 28 points and 14 boards while committing an uncharacteristic seven turnovers. Robinson was limited to 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The defeat was the first for the Spurs at home since April 12.

Game two is tomorrow in San Antonio.

* Vince Carter piled on 39 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 101-89, forcing a deciding game seven in their Eastern Conference semifinals.

Carter made 17-of-31 shots, including four three-pointers, as he won his scoring duel with Allen Iverson.

Iverson, named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, finished with 20 points on 6-of-24 shooting.