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Lakers host red-hot Spurs; Bryant questionable

Dec 10, 2006 - 3:37 PM San Antonio (15-5) at LA Lakers (13-6) 9:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Without superstar Kobe Bryant, the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers had to step up in their last contest.

On Sunday, with Bryant's status questionable, the Lakers will host the red-hot San Antonio Spurs.

Bryant, who originally sprained his ankle after landing on the foot of Indiana forward Jeff Foster, managed 24 points in Wednesday's 105-89 home loss to the New Orleans Hornets. However, he had limited mobility in that game and was not able to get loose for Friday's win vs. Atlanta.

Without Bryant dominating the ball, several Lakers had career nights. Luke Walton scored a career-high 25 points, Maurice Evans added a career-best 22 and rookie Jordan Farmar netted a season-high 15 in Los Angeles' 106-95 victory over the Hawks.

The Lakers are now 3-0 without Bryant this season, but it doesn't look to get any easier against the Spurs, who have won their last three games by a combined 89 points.

On Friday, Tony Parker handed out a career-high 15 assists and Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry had huge nights off the bench as the Spurs coasted to a 111-82 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers for their fourth straight win.

San Antonio has won seven of the last eight meetings vs. the Lakers, including the last four at the Staples Center.