Spurs 103, Lakers 95
Saturday February 15, 2003By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers' winning streak is over. The San Antonio Spurs' is still going.
The Spurs overcame 44 points by Kobe Bryant his eighth straight game with at least 35 and beat the Lakers 103-95 on Friday night, becoming the first NBA team to win seven consecutive road games on the one trip.
``It's a statement not just to the Lakers, but to everybody,'' said Kevin Willis, who started in place of injured center David Robinson. ``We want to establish ourselves as one of the elite teams in the league. We're going to fight every night and work hard, and tonight was just one example.''
Tim Duncan had 28 points and 20 rebounds and Tony Parker added 24 points.
``We have been having great group efforts and that is what has been winning games for us,'' Duncan said. ``We are getting defense from all over and it just feels great right now.''
The Lakers' seven-game winning streak ended as Bryant went 19-of-41 from the floor, more than twice the amount of shots taken by teammate Shaquille O'Neal. Bryant had seven of the Lakers' 11 turnovers.
``We looked like a one-man team,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``I don't think he can be effective at 41 shots. I think 25 is a reasonable number. That was a little bit over the edge.''
It was Bryant's 11th game of 40-plus points this season. Jerry West was the last Laker to score at least 40 points 10 or more times in a season, doing it 13 times in 1969-70.
``We definitely have to have everybody more in the rhythm and next game I'll make a more conscious effort to do that,'' Bryant said. ``I'm not going to panic off of one loss. They're playing excellent basketball and we lost one game. I'm not ready to jump off a bridge.''
O'Neal added 21 points but just five rebounds while in foul trouble for the Lakers, who lost to the Spurs for the third time this season. He missed the first two games while recovering from foot surgery.
``This win really counts when they have Shaq,'' said Stephen Jackson, who hit two 3-pointers early in the fourth that kept the Spurs ahead by double figures. ``We have a lot of guys who can score, and a lot of guys that can contribute to helping Tim. We are just rolling right now and hopefully it keeps going.''
The Spurs are 7-1 on their nine-game trip. They opened with a loss to Minnesota and finish at Sacramento on Sunday. They won this one without Robinson, who is back in San Antonio for treatment of a sore right hip.
``We're trying to get things done, whoever we have here,'' Duncan said. ``We've been up and down with injuries and we've just found a way to play without him.''
Bryant, who averaged 42 points during the Lakers' streak, struggled in the fourth quarter when the Lakers trailed by 13.
He started strong, scoring 24 points in the first half. But he was held to six in the third quarter with Bruce Bowen dogging his every step.
``Bruce Bowen worked him and worked every shot,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ``He had a lot of tough shots. I think Bruce did a heck of a job.''< ^Notes:@ Robert Horry led the Lakers with 15 rebounds. ... The Lakers trail Houston by a half-game for the eighth and final Western Conference spot. ... The Spurs shot 53 percent from 3-point range against a team ranked last in the league in 3-point defense. Opponents are shooting 40 percent against the Lakers from long-range.
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