Final
No Kobe tweeting when Lakers, Spurs meet in Game 2
Apr 24, 2013 - 2:34 PM (Sports Network) - About the only thing we know for sure about Wednesday's Game 2 between the host San Antonio Spurs and visiting Los Angeles Lakers is that Kobe Bryant won't tweet during it."To tweet or not to tweet.. I CHOOSE not 2. Focus should be on the team not my insight," Bryant wrote Monday on the social media site.
His in-game tweeting while laid up after surgery for a torn Achilles tendon apparently served as some sort of distraction during the Spurs' 91-79 victory on Sunday.
"It's great to have that commentary," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said after the loss.
D'Antoni didn't seem overly concerned about Bryant's tweeting.
"I wasn't happy with the 18 turnovers we had," D'Antoni said. "That is, to me, probably the difference in the game. Some of that was turning down shots that were open and trying to force it in a little bit too much. But we have to have the balance, and have to clean some things up to try and get the ball inside a little bit easier."
The Lakers' big men were spectacular on Sunday.
Dwight Howard had 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Pau Gasol scored 16 points and pulled down 16 boards.
Steve Nash, who missed a lot of time at the end of the regular season with a myriad of injuries, managed 16 points and expects to be back out there for Game 2.
"It's not great, it's not going to be great but I (have) to worry about what I can do," Nash said.
Jodie Meeks didn't practice on Monday, but declared he will be available for Wednesday.
The Spurs were vintage Spurs on Sunday.
They played great defense, holding the Lakers to 41 percent shooting and forcing 18 turnovers. San Antonio took care of the ball with only nine turnovers.
The other huge factor, as it has been in past championship runs, was the Big Three.
Tim Duncan (17 points, 10 rebounds), Tony Parker (18 points, eight assists) and Manu Ginobili (18 points in 18 minutes) were dynamic.
"We didn't have a great end to the season, [with] the injuries and just trying to rest guys to be in the right state getting into the playoffs," Duncan said afterward. "It's good to be here, good to turn it up and good to have everybody into form."
Everybody isn't totally in form yet. Parker and Ginobili are definitely still progressing toward 100 percent health and head coach Gregg Popovich knows people will have to step up while they recover on the fly.
"I don't know if we change things, but you look for other people to help us out scoring-wise probably," Popovich said. "There are some things Tony is not yet confident with, movement-wise, but he's getting better every game, every day and he's much closer to being whole."
Matt Bonner was the only other San Antonio player in double figures with 10.
The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Friday night.
- LOS ANGELES: 91
SAN ANTONIO: 102
Final
Apr 25 12:08 AM - LOS ANGELES: 68
SAN ANTONIO: 78
End of 3rd
Apr 24 11:33 PM - LOS ANGELES: 48
SAN ANTONIO: 56
Halftime
Apr 24 10:48 PM - LOS ANGELES: 23
SAN ANTONIO: 28
End of 1st
Apr 24 10:14 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
SAN ANTONIO: 0
1st Quarter - 11:44
Apr 24 9:50 PM
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