LAKERS STAKE CLAIM AS BEST IN THE WEST BY DISMANTLING SPURS

Kobe Bryant led five Los Angeles players in double figures, as the Lakers downed the San Antonio Spurs, 99-85, in a matchup of two of the Western Conference's top teams. Andrew Bynum finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who have won four consecutive games. Trevor Ariza added 17 points, Pau Gasol 16 and Jordan Farmar 14 in LA's win. The Lakers and Spurs came into the contest leading their respective divisions -- Los Angeles atop the Pacific and San Antonio in front in the Southwest. But the Lakers came...read full article

Spurs stopping the Lakers in '09? Unlikely

Game time: Lakers 99, Spurs 85

Previous to the game it certainly looked like San Antonio was the only team that could prevent the Lakers from returning to the Finals. By early in the third quarter, however, this possibility was revealed as a pipe dream. Here's how and why the Lakers so easily dismantled the Spurs: 

Defense
L.A. was so quick into literally every passing lane that the Spurs needed to execute near-perfect passes to keep the ball moving. Any pass that was even slightly off the mark gave...read full article

Lakers breeze to 99-85 victory over Spurs

A matchup of the Western Conference's best teams turned out to be a mismatch. Kobe Bryant scored 22 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, Pau Gasol added 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers routed the San Antonio Spurs 99-85 Sunday. The win was the fourth straight and 14th in 17 games for the Lakers (35-8), whose .814 winning percentage is the best in the NBA although the defending champion Boston Celtics (37-9) lead them by a half-game in the overall standings by virtue of their 124-100 victory...read full article

Lakers leave no doubt in beating the Spurs

L.A. blows open the game early in the third quarter with its inside-out game, and reserve point guard Jordan Farmar returns from injury to score 14 points.

This time, the Lakers made sure there was no controversy in their minds, that there were no close calls and that the game was in hand long before the final minute. This time, on a Sunday afternoon at Staples Center, the Lakers beat up on the San Antonio Spurs, 99-85. And in the process, the Lakers got another piece back when Jordan Farmar returned to play...read full article

Lakers crush Spurs in Western Conference showdown

Kobe Bryant led a balanced scoring attack as the Los Angeles Lakers crushed the San Antonio Spurs 99-85 Sunday in a showdown of the Western Conference's top teams. Bryant scored 22 points while playing only three quarters. He was not needed in the fourth after the Lakers turned a six-point halftime lead into a 15-point spread in the third quarter. The margin eventually went to 21 in the fourth. "We played a stellar game and our bench was the difference breaking the game and holding the lead," Lakers coach Phil Jackson told reporters. "They (Spurs) just...read full article

Lakers, Spurs 112-111: Another one for the books

Another season, another great contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The bad news? A final result of 112-111, with San Antonio on the better end of the stick. The Good news? If you can look past that unfortunate outcome (and as ESPN's Marc Stein reminds Laker fans, it's plenty safe to do so), roundball fans were treated to quite the entertaining contest.  Back and forth scoring. A buzzer beating three from Manu Ginobli to end the third quarter, right on the heels of a trey ball fro Trevor Ariza. The Lakers steadily getting back in the race...read full article

Manu Ginobili is a role model for Lakers reserves

Though the Lakers were missing two key reserves, their bench still played well against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. It's just that San Antonio's bench was more productive. Well, to be fair, Spurs sixth man Manu Ginobili was great. Ginobili had 27 points. He was nine for 15 from the field, four for eight from three-point range. He also had three steals. The Lakers' bench of Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Josh Powell combined for 25 points on 11-for-20 shooting. They also had 13 rebounds, five assists and five steals. But what one can't forget is that...read full article

Mason's late three pointer lifts Spurs over Lakers

Roger Mason nailed a three pointer with just 10 seconds left as the San Antonio Spurs edged the Los Angeles Lakers 112-111. After Kobe Bryant drilled a three-pointer over Mason that gave the Lakers a 111-109 lead with 12 seconds left, the Spurs called a timeout, setting up Mason for the heroics. Matt Bonner had trouble inbounding the ball, but found Mason in the corner. He faked, then hit a tough shot as he was fouled by Derek Fisher. Mason made the ensuing free throw, giving the Spurs a one-point lead. The Lakers had one last chance but Bryant was doubled...read full article

Spurs beat Lakers 112-111 in West finals rematch

Roger Mason hit a jumper with 10 seconds left and made a free throw after being fouled by Derek Fisher, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-111 on Wednesday night in the first meeting between the teams since the Western Conference finals. After Mason's three-point play, the Lakers failed to get a shot off when Trevor Ariza was called for traveling with .8 left. The Lakers rallied from 11 points behind in the fourth quarter and led when Kobe Bryant hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. The Spurs called timeout and worked the ball over the...read full article

Lakers impress rival coach Gregg Popovich

San Antonio gets the win, but the Spurs' coach comes away with an appreciation for what the Lakers are doing this season, as he credits Phil Jackson.

Reporting from San Antonio -- His team won and yet San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich still is impressed by what the Lakers are, what they have become and what they can be. Popovich had heard so much about the Lakers, about their talent, depth and drive to win an NBA championship after losing to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals. He credits Lakers Coach...read full article