And Sacramento power forward Chris Webber's

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dark day wasn't over after he fouled out with about seven minutes remaining. Moments after slipping on a black dress shirt, black suit, black socks and a pair of black dress shoes, Webber had few answers.

Webber had 28 points in 27 whistle-filled minutes of the Kings' 117-107 defeat to the Lakers. He tallied half of that output in the first quarter, but the real monster game was tailored by Los Angeles center Shaquille O'Neal, who had 46 points and 17 boards.

"We have to keep everyone healthy, rebound," Webber said, "and pray."

Webber's final answer came when a Sacramento television reporter pressed him about the Kings' ability to beat the Lakers. Webber politely dismissed the inquiry.

"Please," he said, "you're standing in our locker room."

What are your chances in Sacramento, the reporter asked, because there are a lot of people who don't think you can defeat this team. He should have started praying.

"Yo, this interview is over!" Webber bellowed as he stood up. In not-so-polite terms, he said that's like asking a man who just got divorced with whom his ex-wife was having an extra-marital affair. Then he stormed out of the tiny visitors' locker room.

It was far from a good day for Webber or Sacramento, whose nickname many believe will fit the Lakers once these drawn-out, ratings-fed playoffs come to an end in late June.

For the Lakers, it might have been a banner day. Shaq kept dominating in the same fashion that will probably net him the NBA's MVP award, and he also hit four of his five free-throw attempts.

"The big fella anchored us," said small forward Glen Rice, "and we just followed him."

The Lakers, the best rebounding team in the league during the regular season, pounded the Kings 54-37 on the boards. The second game of the best-of-5 series isn't until Thursday, here at Staples, and Webber would be wise to lay some muscle on his guards.

Kobe Bryant and Ron Harper, the Lakers' backcourt starters, crashed the glass for 16 rebounds. Six of Harper's nine boards were on offense, where Bryant snaked five of his seven.

"We have to hold our ground better," said Sacramento coach Rick Adelman. Barbed wire would help.

Kings guards Jason Williams and Nick Anderson need a quick lesson in blocking out from Webber, and they could have picked up a tip or two if they had seen Webber's fast break out of the locker room, too.

"That kills a team," Lakers power forward A.C. Green said of his team's huge edge in offensive rebounds. "You play so hard on defense, trying to make a stop, and the next thing you know someone gets a tip-in or gets possession."

It was also a meeting of the NBA's top scoring team against the Lakers, who have relished playing defense for first-year coach Phil Jackson. L.A. holds foes to a league-low 41.6 percent shooting, and the Kings connected on only 43.5 percent on Sunday.

And there were few answers for O'Neal or Bryant, sore right wrist and all. That dynamic duo accounted for 69 points and 55 shots, of which they made 32. Shaq was 21-for-33 from the field.

"They like to run and shoot, and when we get the opportunity we can do that," O'Neal said. "Guys brought their A-games today. We have to do that Thursday, then we have to go up there and steal one."

Sacramento put itself into position to steal Sunday's game, cutting a 16-point deficit in half in a 77-second spurt. And Vlade Divac's two free throws sliced the Lakers' lead to 105-99 with 4:33 left.

Then Bryant and O'Neal turned it on. Bryant hit a nifty 15-foot jumper, pump-faking Tony Delk and sinking it as the shot clock blared. O'Neal fouled Divac, who missed both free throws, and then converted a layup and dunk to seal it.

Fourteen more victories, and the Lakers will have the championship they've sought so badly since Jackson was introduced as their next coach last June at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Jackson would have liked more adversity on Sunday, but Bryant and O'Neal quelled that one brief nervous time with Webber on the bench in the fourth quarter.

Robert Horry of the Lakers was the defendant in Webber's fourth and fifth fouls, the latter when Horry fell backward after Webber tried controlling his spot in the post near the end of the third quarter.

Coach Phil Jackson discusses the game plan, which seems to be working, with Shaquille O'Neal.(AP)

Official Mike Callahan hit Webber with a technical foul when he protested. Webber returned in the fourth but lasted only two seconds, as Derek Fisher slid over in the paint to take a charge from Webber.

"It's the same way with L.A. every time, 'cause Horry flops a lot," Webber said. "If you don't call one charge on Shaq, how can you call a charge on me? I can't make any apologies for playing physical with Horry. That's their plan, to flop and get sympathy on their side."

Flop? This version of the Lakers? The franchise hasn't been in an NBA Finals since 1991, when Chicago belted the Lakes in five games. Jackson was the mastermind, Michael Jordan was the star and five more championships followed.

After that series, the Lakers were 23-30 in the playoffs, until Jackson arrived.

Think Jackson doesn't have any ulterior motives when he wheels his black-and-red Harley-Davidson, with the Chicago Bulls' logo on both sides of the fuel tank, into the practice facility in El Segundo?

The tasseled Hog, title rings and Zen philosophy have all been about making a point. The Lakers started making it Sunday.

Does Harley make one in royal purple and gold?