L.A. Lakers (5-7) at San Antonio (10-3) 8:30 pm EST
SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - The teams that have combined for six of
the last seven NBA championships meet for the first time this
season Tuesday when the San Antonio Spurs host the Los Angeles
Lakers.
After the Spurs won the 1999 title, the Lakers won three
straight before San Antonio captured the crown in 2003 and also
earlier this year.
In Friday's 106-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls, two-time NBA Most
Valuable Player Tim Duncan scored 24 points to lead five Spurs
in double figures and grabbed 11 rebounds as San Antonio lost
for the first time at home this season.
Manu Ginobili scored 16 points and Nick Van Exel came off the
bench to add 15 for San Antonio, which lost to the Bulls for the
first time in 10 meetings.
In his return to the Lakers, coach Phil Jackson has seen mixed
results from his team. The Lakers have lost seven of 12 and are
in last place in the Pacific Division.
Kobe Bryant tried to carry the Lakers on his shoulders Sunday by
scoring a league season-high 46 points against the New Jersey
Nets. Despite rallying from an 18-point deficit, the Lakers
suffered a 102-96 overtime loss.
A seven-time All-Star, Bryant leads the league in scoring (34.2)
and is averaging nearly 34 shots from the floor in his last
five games.
San Antonio, which was 38-3 at home last season, has won the
last five meetings against the Lakers.





