LOS ANGELES • One night after the Los Angeles Clippers handed them a 19-point defeat, the San Antonio Spurs returned to winning form against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Point guard Tony Parker scored 25 points, leading the Spurs to a 119-113 victory over the Lakers in the National Basketball Association league on Friday night.
"It's a good win," said Parker, who connected on nine of 16 shots from the floor and all seven of his free throws. "We wanted to bounce back and we did a lot better today."
Seven Spurs players scored in double figures. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge had 16 points and eight rebounds, guard Patty Mills added 15 points and seven assists and forward Tim Duncan chipped in with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
San Antonio (46-9) prevailed after the Clippers snapped their six-game winning streak with a 105-86 rout on Thursday.
"Guys played well. I thought guys played confident and took shots that were there, didn't try to force anything," said Aldridge.
Spurs, who again played without All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard (tightness in his left calf), swept the season series against the Lakers. The game also represented the final time they will face the retiring Kobe Bryant.
Bryant had 25 points on 10-of-25 shooting from the field, missing seven of his eight three-pointers.
Guard Lou Williams contributed 21 points and guard Jordan Clarkson had 20 points and six assists for the Lakers (11-45).
Bryant dislocated his right middle finger with 2min 10sec remaining while chasing a loose ball. He left the game briefly to allow trainer Gary Vitti to pop the finger back into place.
"This probably will be the only time I can sit here and do this at a press conference," Bryant said, flashing his middle digit to the media and generating plenty of laughs.
REUTERS
