THE X FACTORS

A look at a few of the factors that made the difference in Jazz’s 109-98 victory over the Lakers.

AT THE LINE

The Lakers were the NBA’s worst free-throw shooting team (making 67% of their shots) during the regular season, and the Jazz (71%) was the best. A quarter-by-quarter look at Game 3:

FIRST

LAKERS: 4 ATT, MADE 2

JAZZ: 0 ATT, MADE 0

SECOND

LAKERS: 15 ATT, MADE 8

JAZZ: 8 ATT, MADE 8

THIRD

LAKERS: 12 ATT, MADE 11

JAZZ: 5 ATT, MADE 3

FOURTH

LAKERS: 7 ATT, MADE 2

JAZZ: 16 ATT, MADE 12

THE BIG MEN

How Laker center Shaquille O’Neal and Jazz forward Karl Malone stacked up against each other:

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL:

Game 3: 39 pts, 15 reb

Series: 29.6 pts, 10.0 reb

Playoffs: 29.8 pts, 10.4 reb

KARL MALONE:

Game 3: 29 pts, 10 reb

Series: 29.3 pts, 9.0 reb

Playoffs: 26.5 pts, 10.8 reb

THE SUPPORTING CAST

How some other key members of the Lakers and Jazz contributed:

EDDIE JONES

Struggled shooting in first half (1 of 10, two points) Better in second half (finished 6 of 19)

NICK VAN EXEL

Spark off bench? Not in this series. Continued dismal shooting (2 of 13, 7 of 34 series). Ouch!

ANDERSON /MORRIS

Bench power! Shandon Anderson nets 11 of 13 points in fourth quarter. Chris Morris cans 15 more.

BRYON RUSSELL

Made all six field goal attempts, including crucial 3-pointer with 1:37 left to put Jazz up, 99-92.

PARTING SHOTS

Wonder what the Lakers are going to do on their summer vacations?