Game is Thursday, 9:30 CST on TNT.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011020313#San Antonio (40-8) at LA Lakers (34-15)
Tipoff: 10:30 pm EST Thu Feb 3, 2011
TV: TNT
By Matt Beardmore
The San Antonio Spurs couldn’t stop a young big man in their last game. It’s uncertain which starting center they’ll face when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Spurs look to rebound from a rare loss Thursday night at Staples Center, where the Lakers could be without Andrew Bynum for a second straight contest.
Opening a season-high nine-game trip Tuesday, San Antonio (40-8) was denied a fourth consecutive victory, losing 99-86 to Portland. Tim Duncan had 15 points and seven rebounds and DeJuan Blair posted his second consecutive game with 14 points and 12 boards, but the Spurs frontcourt could not contain LaMarcus Aldridge. The Trail Blazers forward scored a career-high 40 points and received a handshake from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich afterward.
“I think we held him to 40,” Popovich joked. “I stopped counting after a while.”
The Lakers (34-15) were counting on Bynum to remain in the starting lineup after he missed the first 24 games following offseason right knee surgery, but the oft-injured center suffered another setback as an MRI on Tuesday revealed a bone bruise on his left knee.
“I’m not so sure it’s just going to be one game, but it’s a game-by-game decision,” coach Phil Jackson said prior to a 114-106 overtime victory over Houston on Tuesday. “It’s a bone bruise, and sometimes those things take more than one game.”
If Bynum is out, Lamar Odom will likely start again. Making his first start since scoring nine points with eight rebounds in a 97-82 loss at San Antonio on Dec. 28, Odom had 20 points with a season-high 20 boards versus the Rockets.
“He’s been doing that for us all year,” said Kobe Bryant, averaging 54.0 percent shooting over the last seven games. “People forget how well he was playing when Drew was down. He’s capable of doing that and stepping in and having huge games like this.”
So is Pau Gasol, who had 26 points and 16 rebounds to help the Lakers avoid a third straight home loss. His 20 field-goal attempts were his most since shooting 22 times against Toronto on Nov. 5.
“I’ve just got to be more aggressive,” said Gasol, following Bryant’s advice to be “more selfish.” “I’ve got to be more involved. If I’m not, I can’t contribute, can’t live up to my potential.”
Gasol and the Lakers didn’t do that in the Dec. 28 loss to the Spurs. Gasol scored nine points, Bryant had 21 on 8-of-27 shooting - missing 13 straight at one point - and Los Angeles made a season-low 35.4 percent from the field.
The Lakers, who open a seven-game trip Saturday, have fared much better at home against the Spurs, winning five of seven. San Antonio, though, snapped a four-game road skid in the series with a 100-81 victory April 4 to clinch its 13th consecutive playoff berth.
With Tony Parker sidelined with a broken ring finger in that matchup, Manu Ginobili scored 32 and Duncan added 24 points and 11 rebounds. The Spurs posted their most lopsided road win over the Lakers since a 110-82 victory in Game 6 of the 2003 Western Conference semifinals.
The last time San Antonio lost two in a row was Jan. 4-5.
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Team Stat Leaders
Points
Manu Ginobili SA 18.8
Kobe Bryant LAL 25.6
Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 9.4
Pau Gasol LAL 10.6
Assists
Tony Parker SA 6.8
Kobe Bryant LAL 4.9
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slu...numneehursdayeAndrew Bynum: (Knee) Thursday Return Expected
Bynum (knee) expects to play Thursday against the Spurs, the LA Times reports.
“It’s good,” Bynum said of his knee. “I should be back”. Bynum will likely take it game by game moving forward, but it looks like he’ll be in the lineup Thursday. Check back Thursday afternoon for a definitive outlook.
I'm hoping for a good game..but after the minutes many of the Laker starters had last night..I'm sure this one will be tough..and quite frankly..I almost don't want to see the disaster if it were to unfold.
I hope Bynum plays...we need to see if we can handle their bigs
Nah bud, I'm sure you guys will play well. I mean I'd be surprised for the Lakers to allow there to be two losses to the Spurs, especially if they think they still have a shot at catching the top seed. I'm just hoping for a good game between two good teams either way.
tony parker struggled against the blazers. make no mistake he wont against our pg's. in fact even aaron brooks who was shooting 20% made some shots last night against fishers defense.
Heard today that Ron Artest wants a trade. No big surprise with how LA's fanbase has been treating him (based on "nba forum" and how he's been reacting. Think it will affect tonight's game at all?
you mean Thursday's game?
he cant play any worse. if anything it might help him play better
My bad, that's exactly what I mean. Been snowing all day and been drinking whiskey
Lakers 104
Spurs 86
I pictured Pop from your avatar saying that (beard and all) and I laughed so hard
With Tony Parker sidelined with a broken ring finger in that matchup
I have a bad feeling we're going to get demolished in this one, much like the Hornets game. The Lakers will try to make a statement and get revenge for the loss in SA.
I think just the opposite. Spurs win huge tomorrow night.
I predict a huge Spur win. Los Angeles is just plain out of gas.
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...-lakers-34-15/Thursday: Spurs (40-8) at Lakers (34-15)
Mike Monroe
...Tonight’s game is second of four meetings; Spurs won first game 97-82 at AT&T Center. … Lakers snapped two-game home losing streak on Tuesday, beating Houston Rockets 114-106 in overtime, avoiding first three-game home losing streak in three seasons. …
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakers...rew-bynum.htmlPhil Jackson says Andrew Bynum plans to play against San Antonio
Mark Medina
LA Times
After performing "limited work" during Wednesday's practice, Lakers center Andrew Bynum says he feels comfortable enough to play Thursday against San Antonio, Coach Phil Jackson said.
"He says he wants to," Jackson said of Bynum, who sat out of Tuesday's 114-106 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets because of a bone bruise in his left knee. "He was out performing."
Asked how Bynum looked in practice, Jackson said, "It's not high energy, but he looked OK. It looked like he was ready."
Bynum didn't talks to reporters after Wednesday's practice, but speaking briefly following Tuesday's game, he said that his knee "feels good" and that he planned on playing against the Spurs.
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http://lakers.ocregister.com/2011/02...rs-40-8/47994/LAKERS THURSDAY PREVIEW: vs. Spurs (40-8)
Janis Carr
The Orange County Register
...How they match up:
Lakers: 103.7 points, 96.8 points allowed, 47.1 FG%, 78.6 FT%
Spurs: 104.0 points, 96.9 points allowed, 47.0 FG%, 77.5 FT%
Outlook
The Lakers face the Spurs in the worst case scenario — after the Western Conference-leading team lost to Portland on Tuesday. The Spurs will be looking to get back to winning after suffering just their eighth loss of the season and could take it out on the Lakers. The Spurs won their last meeting, a 97-82 victory on Dec. 28, and held the Lakers to a season-low 27.1 percent shooting. Things could be harder for the Lakers the second time around if theydon’t have Andrew Bynum, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee against the Celtics. Bynum, however, said he should be ready to play.
Bynum played in the game in SA, as did Gasol and Odom. And don't say he wasn't 100%, he pretty much never is, and he still had a better game than most of the other Lakers.
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...nounced-today/The Spurs canceled a practice session that had been planned for Wednesday morning in Portland. Reserve center-forward Matt Bonner will have to wait until the team’s shootaround this morning to determine if the pain in his right knee will allow him to return to action after missing the last eight games.
He is officially listed as doubtful to suit up against the Lakers.
I wanna see George Hill vs Kobe again!!!
This game is a trap. Spurs are going to be looking forward to the Kings on a b2b.
This one can go either way. If Tony and Manu attack and George Hill continues to give Kobe some problems we can win in L.A.
If we lose, I just would like to say the Spurs played good but the Lakers were better. We won many games this season playing bad, but a good loss ... I don't remember one. Perhaps there is not such a thing ...
http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Thurs. Feb. 3
San Antonio @ L.A. Lakers: Ken Mauer; Courtney Kirkland; Eli Roe
Spurs will blow out the lakers for the third straight time.
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