The Lakers (34-15, 21-27-1 ATS) will be looking to make a statement in a showdown between the Western Conference’s top two teams at the Staples Center Thursday night.
They did not have a good showing in this season’s only previous encounter between the two teams, which was a 97-82 Spurs’ blowout in San Antonio, with the home team making a joke out of the 3.5-point spread.
Tim Duncan (two points, four rebounds) and Kobe Bryant (21 points on 8-of-27 shooting) both had sub-par outings, but Duncan’s supporting cast proved to be far superior. No other Lakers players scored more than 10 points. Tony Parker scored 23 points, Richard Jefferson added 15 and DeJuan Blair had a big double-double with 17 points and 15 boards for the Spurs. San Antonio also turned the ball over just nine times to L.A.’s 16 giveaways.
Road-io
For two teams that are leading their conference, both the Spurs and the Lakers are dealing with a decent amount of adversity.
San Antonio (40-8, 28-12-2 ATS) is just getting started with its annual “Rodeo Road Trip”, as the AT&T Center is hosting the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. The Spurs’ first of nine games away from home went terribly for them Tuesday. They got hammered by Portland 99-86 with the Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge going off for 40 points.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, has lost two of three and is 0-3 ATS in that span. The Lakers got crushed by Boston at home Sunday and needed overtime to beat Houston Tuesday. Andrew Bynum missed Tuesday’s tilt with a bruised left knee, but Lamar Odom started in his place and erupted for 20 points and 20 rebounds.
“It's good,” Bynum said after the game. “I should be back.”
Head coach Phil Jackson, however, sounded less confident, so Bynum will probably be a game-time decision.
Trending topics
The Lakers are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games and 0-4 ATS in their last four against the NBA Southwest.
The under is 11-2 in the Spurs’ last 13 overall and 8-2 in their last 10 against the Western Conference.
San Antonio is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games at the Staples Center while the under is 6-0 in the last six meetings between the two teams in Los Angeles.
PLAY the SPURS +4
They did not have a good showing in this season’s only previous encounter between the two teams, which was a 97-82 Spurs’ blowout in San Antonio, with the home team making a joke out of the 3.5-point spread.
Tim Duncan (two points, four rebounds) and Kobe Bryant (21 points on 8-of-27 shooting) both had sub-par outings, but Duncan’s supporting cast proved to be far superior. No other Lakers players scored more than 10 points. Tony Parker scored 23 points, Richard Jefferson added 15 and DeJuan Blair had a big double-double with 17 points and 15 boards for the Spurs. San Antonio also turned the ball over just nine times to L.A.’s 16 giveaways.
Road-io
For two teams that are leading their conference, both the Spurs and the Lakers are dealing with a decent amount of adversity.
San Antonio (40-8, 28-12-2 ATS) is just getting started with its annual “Rodeo Road Trip”, as the AT&T Center is hosting the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. The Spurs’ first of nine games away from home went terribly for them Tuesday. They got hammered by Portland 99-86 with the Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge going off for 40 points.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, has lost two of three and is 0-3 ATS in that span. The Lakers got crushed by Boston at home Sunday and needed overtime to beat Houston Tuesday. Andrew Bynum missed Tuesday’s tilt with a bruised left knee, but Lamar Odom started in his place and erupted for 20 points and 20 rebounds.
“It's good,” Bynum said after the game. “I should be back.”
Head coach Phil Jackson, however, sounded less confident, so Bynum will probably be a game-time decision.
Trending topics
The Lakers are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games and 0-4 ATS in their last four against the NBA Southwest.
The under is 11-2 in the Spurs’ last 13 overall and 8-2 in their last 10 against the Western Conference.
San Antonio is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games at the Staples Center while the under is 6-0 in the last six meetings between the two teams in Los Angeles.
PLAY the SPURS +4
