Lakers Obliterate Spurs to Win 7th Straight

The Spurs may have the best win-loss season record in the NBA so far, but that didn't stop Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, the defending NBA champions, from obliterating the Spurs on Sunday night. The final score, 99-83, doesn't suggest a major blowout, but the Lakers certainly made a statement with this victory. And the statement is that, despite how well the Spurs are playing this season (and that is very well indeed), the Lakers are still clearly in it to win it. In other words, the Lakers are still a serious threat come playoffs time.

Bryant led both teams in scoring with 26 points. He also contributed 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Lakers center Andrew Bynum led both teams in rebounds and blocks, with 17 and 3, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Spurs, who basically put on a three-point shooting clinic during their Friday night blowout victory against the Miami Heat, made only 7 of their 21 three-point shot attempts and were restricted to 33% shooting overall from the field.

The Lakers set the pace of the game in the first quarter, outscoring the Spurs 34-13. The Lakers maintained a comfortable lead up until the fourth quarter, when the Spurs outscored the Lakers 31-18. But it just wasn't enough.

"They hit us in the mouth from the beginning and by the time we realized it, it was the ninth round and we were down on the scorecard," said Spurs guard Gary Neal, who led his team in scoring with 15 points.

"Nobody expects to be losing by more than 20 in the first quarter," said Spurs star Manu Ginobli. "But the way the game presented itself, they were making every shot. We couldn't make layups, 3s, free throws, anything."

With Sunday's win, the Lakers won their seventh straight game and ended the Spurs' beloved 22-home-game win streak. If nothing else, the Lakers showed on Sunday that they are clearly a force to be reckoned with, despite having trailed the Spurs all season.

(Sources: ESPN.com)

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