Lakers 102, Spurs 97
December 13th, 2007, 10:18 pm · Post a Comment · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM
LOS ANGELES – The Lakers were just too talented for the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
Well, San Antonio played without key starters Tim Duncan and Tony Parker because of injury, which was pretty huge. Still, the Lakers had the depth to overcome the ejection of Andrew Bynum and pull away in the fourth quarter.
Kobe Bryant had 30 points, and Lamar Odom (15 points) and Ronny Turiaf (eight points) had key plays late.
Bynum was ejected with 4:32 left in the third quarter for drawing two technical fouls, first for going after San Antonio’s Fabricio Oberto and second for something he said to referee James Capers (heard by referee Jim Clark) upon drawing the first technical. The Lakers led, 63-60, at the time.
QUOTABLE
Downplaying his two-year contract extension having the second year at his option, Phil Jackson said with a smile: “It’s always an option to quit.”
SLOW START
On consecutive first-quarter possessions, Bryant set up Odom for a dunk (he rattled it out) and an open three-pointer (it barely drew iron).
LUKE’S BACK
Luke Walton, who returned after a one-game layoff because of a sprained right ankle, started and closed the first half with a three-pointer off a Bryant pass for a 51-43 Lakers lead.
NEXT
Lakers at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. Friday, KCAL/9, ESPN, KLAC/570
