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Luster Lost? Spurs, Lakers tussle in LA

Nov 14, 2014 - 2:56 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - It used to be one of the best rivalries in basketball, but things have changed when the San Antonio Spurs visit the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night at Staples Center.

These two organizations were the powerhouses of the Western Conference during the early part of this century. These storied franchises have combined to win nine NBA championships since 2000. While one team has maintained excellence, the other is heading in the wrong direction.

The Spurs are the defending NBA champions and rattled off back-to-back road wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors, two teams that figured to challenge San Antonio's supremacy.

Against the Warriors on Tuesday, Tony Parker poured in 28 points with seven assists to lead the Spurs to a 113-100 win over the Warriors. It was the 25th San Antonio victory in its last 29 against Golden State.

Kawhi Leonard finished with 19 points and six rebounds, Tim Duncan went for 12 points and 13 boards and Manu Ginobili added 17 points off the bench for the Spurs.

In addition, Duncan became the 11th player in NBA history to record 14,000 rebounds. He is eight points shy of 25,000 for his career.

At 4-3, the Spurs are fine, but they are three games out in the impressive Southwest Division.

"We started the season a little bit slow, but we just had a great back-to- back," Parker said referring to Monday's win over the Clippers. "Hopefully we get in a rhythm and get everyone back."

The Lakers own the Western Conference's worst mark at 1-7. They've dropped two in a row and the most recent setback set the head coach into a lather.

The Lakers fell to the New Orleans Pelicans, 109-102, in the Big Easy Wednesday. The Pelicans shot 54.9 percent from the floor and Lakers coach Byron Scott had enough watching his team defend.

"We just did a terrible job defensively," Scott said. "It was probably the worst defense we have played all season (and) preseason."

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 33 points on 10-of-28 shooting and Carlos Boozer added 16 points and six rebounds in the setback. Jeremy Lin tallied 15 points and Wesley Johnson added 10 for the Lakers.

LA will be without the services of Ronnie Price on Friday. He was suspended one game for hitting New Orleans' Austin Rivers in the head on Wednesday night.

The Spurs took three of four meetings with the Lakers last season and are 7-2 in their last nine against Los Angeles. San Antonio has taken two straight, four of five and six of its last eight as the visitor in this series.