Bryant and Lakers down Spurs

Dec 11, 2006, 5:35 GMT

Los Angeles, CA - Kobe Bryant poured in a game-high 34 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the LA Lakers past the San Antonio Spurs, 106-99, at the Staples Center.

Bryant finished 13-of-25 shooting from the floor while Lamar Odom scored 18 points with 11 boards and nine assists for the Lakers, who have won two straight and five of their last six.

Luke Walton added 17 points, Kwame Brown had 11 and Smush Parker finished with 10 in the win.

'San Antonio is one of the elite teams in the league,' Walton said. 'We had to fight tonight and we had a lot of energy. We finally put a game together.'

Los Angeles shot 49 percent from the field.

Manu Ginobili netted 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting while Tony Parker donated 21 points and dished out nine helpers for the Spurs, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Tim Duncan, who pulled down 13 rebounds, and Bruce Bowen each contributed 16 points in defeat.

'The Lakers' pressure was great in the second half and we absolutely folded,' Spurs head coach Greg Popovich stated. 'We played sloppy basketball and that was because of their pressure.'

Bryant nailed a layup to get Los Angeles within two, 17-15, with 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the first. However, San Antonio went on an 11-2 run, capped by Ginobili's three, and led 28-21 after one.

The Lakers knotted the contest at 30 by scoring nine of the first 11 points in the second. Both teams then kept it close throughout the rest of the frame, but Parker hit a layup to give the Spurs a 48-46 edge at halftime.

Los Angeles, though, came out in the third and outscored San Antonio, 37-22.

The Spurs led throughout the quarter until Odom tied the game, 64-64, with a layup at the 4:12 mark. Odom then hit a free throw and drilled a three before Walton's layup and free throw put the Lakers up by seven.

Los Angeles held an 83-70 lead after three.

In the fourth, the San Antonio got as close as three, 90-87 on Duncan's turnaround jumper with 6:23 to play, but the Lakers were able to hold a comfortable margin despite being outshot in the period.

Game Notes

The Spurs dropped to 8-3 on the road this season.

San Antonio visits the Clippers in LA on Monday while the Lakers travel to Houston on Tuesday.

© 2006 The Sports Network