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Depleted Lakers welcome Spurs to Staples Center

Apr 26, 2013 - 3:00 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers will try to make it a series with the San Antonio Spurs Friday night when the action shifts to the Staples Center.

The Spurs took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals on Wednesday night in San Antonio with a 102-91 victory.

Things won't get any easier for the Lakers in trying to make this a competitive series. Kobe Bryant is already down after Achilles tendon surgery and the backcourt took some serious blows on Wednesday.

Steve Blake, who replaced Bryant in the starting lineup and averaged 14.0 ppg through the first two games, suffered a moderate strain of his right hamstring Wednesday. He is out indefinitely.

Jodie Meeks has a sprained left ankle and is listed as doubtful.

The biggest injury of them all belongs to point guard Steve Nash. He received two epidural injections in his back and a cortisone shot in his right hip and is also listed as doubtful.

"I'm still in a lot of discomfort, not only from last night, but getting a bunch of darts stuck in me," Nash said Thursday. "I'm very concerned. It's really frustrating, especially because I was at the point where I was excited to start the last two games even though I still couldn't sprint completely and I was not moving as well as I'd like. I still thought I could still be effective and find a way to help the team and impact the game."

Blake and Dwight Howard led the way for the Lakers in Game 2. Metta World Peace and Pau Gasol had 13 apiece and Darius Morris added 10 off the bench.

The Spurs won all four quarters on Wednesday and point guard Tony Parker was spectacular. He notched 28 points, handed out seven assists and didn't have a single turnover.

"The second half I was very aggressive," said Parker. "I've been battling a lot of injuries, but I felt very good tonight. Most importantly, we won the game."

Parker was at his best on Wednesday, but the Spurs were polished on offense.

Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Matt Bonner and Manu Ginobili all joined Parker as double-digit scorers in Game 2. The Spurs shot 51 percent from the field, 50 percent from behind the 3-point line and only committed nine turnovers.

"We're playing Spurs basketball," said Parker.

Spurs basketball has sent four championship banners to the rafters. It also taught the team to take nothing for granted.

"All we did was keep serve. We have to go out (to Los Angeles) and see if we can play better than we did at home," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said.

San Antonio won one of two games on the road this season against the Lakers and have taken four of the last six away from home against the Lakers.

Game 4 is slated for Sunday.