The Lakers were hosting the San Antonio Spurs tonight in a battle between the two best teams in the Western Conference. The Lakers entered the game with a record of 34-15 while the Spurs were 40-8.
After all the controversy surrounding the Lakers over the past week with trade rumors and such, the Lakers were looking to prove they can beat an elite member of the NBA hierarchy.
First Quarter
The first quarter opened with both the Spurs and the Lakers looking rather sloppy. The Lakers offense looked stagnant and they turned the ball over multiple times. One of the positives for Los Angeles was the movement of Andrew Bynum, who was back in the starting line-up after missing Tuesday night’s game with a bone bruise on his right knee.
Bynum looked very active during his first stretch on the court, and had four points and a rebound before taking a seat. The Spurs maintained a lead for much of the quarter in large part due to Richard Jefferson. The Spurs guard scored 10 points in the quarter alone, and led San Antonio to a 22-18 lead over the Lakers at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
With the reserves in to start the second quarter the Lakers were looking to take the lead that San Antonio held for the first twelve minutes. However, ill-timed jump shots and lack of offensive rotation helped prevent the Lakers from gaining real rhythm.
While the Lakers continued to struggle on offense, the Spurs continued to roll on offense. Los Angeles showed flashes of good defense, but also had multiple instances where San Antonio was able to capitalize on Laker mistakes. There were several instances where San Antonio missed open lay-ups that could have increased the Spurs lead to double digits.
At the end of the first half the Lakers and the Spurs were tied at 42, as San Antonio ended the half on a 9-2 run.
Next: Second Half
Third Quarter
The Spurs opened the third quarter strong, scoring five quick points to immediately retake the lead from the Lakers. Led by Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Spurs kept the Lakers on their hips for the beginning of the second half. Both teams continued to struggle offensively, as the teams had trouble finding rhythm.
San Antonio was finally able to gain some rhythm thanks to Tony Parker. After Jefferson carried them for much of the first half, Parker picked things up in the third. Parker himself went on a 6-0 scoring run to give the Spurs an eight point lead.
The Lakers were able to respond, and ultimately cut back into the lead. By the end of the third quarter the Spurs and Lakers were locked in a low-scoring affair, and San Antonio led 66-63.
Fourth Quarter
After San Antonio opened the third with intensity, the Lakers returned the favor in the fourth. Los Angeles scored four straight to go back up on top. The lead didn’t last long, though, as the Spurs came right back to re-claim the advantage.
One noticeable change for the Lakers tonight came from Shannon Brown. While he has been known as a spot-up shooter this season (when he isn’t flying through the air), tonight he was much more aggressive. Brown drove to the hoop and took more mid-range jump shots that were higher percentage shots.
The Spurs opened up an eight point lead as the Lakers continued to flounder on offense. However, after Phil Jackson subbed Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol back into the game the Los Angeles fortunes changed. A three-point play from Lamar Odom was followed by a jumper from Kobe Bryant and the Lakers were right back in it.
Even though the Lakers repeatedly threatened throughout the quarter, San Antonio always managed to stay on top. The Lakers were unable to take advantage of their size and length due to poor ball movement and an apparent desire to shoot jump shots. When they did attack the hoop, they came out with points more often than naught.
The Lakers took the lead with just over twenty seconds left in the game, but San Antonio had one more possession. After a missed three from Ginobili and a missed lay-up from Parker the Spurs got the ball again after it bounced out of bounds off of Ron Artest. Tim Duncan missed a jumper but Antonio McDyess, who gave the Lakers trouble all night long, tipped in a shot just before time expired to give the Spurs a one point victory.
It was a heart-breaking loss for the Lakers, who now head out on a seven game road trip that will begin this Saturday in New Orleans.