Spurs Slip By Lakers
NBA playoffs
David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs knew the Los Angeles Lakers would be tired. They also knew that wouldn’t stop the Lakers from playing hard.
The Lakers, who upset Seattle Thursday night to make it to the Western Conference semifinals, stayed close until late in Saturday’s game before the Spurs pulled out a 110-94 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.
“Since Los Angeles played two days ago against Seattle, I thought they would be more fatigued in the second half,” said Robinson, who led the Spurs with 33 points and 11 rebounds. “But the Lakers were able to go up and down the floor pretty well.”
The Lakers trailed 58-48 at the half and 80-73 after three quarters, but were within 10 points much of the final period. Two free throws with 2:05 left by Avery Johnson, who had 19 points and 12 assists, put San Antonio ahead 102-90. The game was out of reach for Los Angeles.
Obviously, Harris said, his team wasn’t at its best because of the short turnaround, but said the Lakers weren’t using fatigue as an excuse.The series continues Monday in San
Antonio.
Saturday’s game was roughly played and was followed by some player apologies.
Elden Campbell was called for a flagrant foul with 4:43 remaining for tangling with Robinson under the Spurs’ basket - sending Robinson to the floor on his back, where he lay for several seconds holding his elbow. He didn’t leave the game, however.
Campbell said Robinson already had lost his balance before the contact, which he said wasn’t intentional.
Less than a minute earlier, Dennis Rodman, who had 12 rebounds for the Spurs, received a technical for wrapping his arms tightly around the Lakers’ Vlade Divac when Divac tried to argue with an official.
Spurs 110, Lakers 94
L.A. LAKERS (94)
Ceballos 3-10 0-0 7, Campbell 12-20 5-6 29, Divac 10-19 5-8 25, Peeler 2-10 2-4 6, Van Exel 7-13 2-4 16, Jones 1-8 2-2 5, Bowie 1-5 2-2 4, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Lynch 1-3 0-0 2, Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Harvey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 37-92 18-26 94.
SAN ANTONIO (110)
Rodman 2-6 2-2 6, Elliott 3-9 4-5 10, Robinson 14-23 5-5 33, Johnson 7-12 5-6 19, Del Negro 4-7 0-0 10, Person 4-5 0-0 11, Reid 3-7 4-5 10, Anderson 1-1 0-0 2, Cummings 0-1 2-2 2, Rivers 3-5 0-0 7.Totals 41-76 22-25 110.
LA Lakers 30 18 25 21 - 94 San Antonio 30 28 22 30 - 110
3-Point goals-Los Angeles 2-15 (Jones 1-2, Ceballos 1-4, Divac 0-2, Van Exel 0-2, Smith 0-2, Peeler 0-3), San Antonio 6-10 (Person 3-4, Del Negro 2-3, Rivers 1-2, Elliott 0-1). Fouled out- Campbell. Rebounds-Los Angeles 57 (Divac 11), San Antonio 44 (Rodman 12). Assists-Los Angeles 18 (Van Exel 12), San Antonio 28 (Johnson 12). Total fouls-Los Angeles 25, San Antonio 21. Technicals-Campbell, Peeler, Rodman, Rivers, San Antonio illegal defense. Flagrant foul-Campbell. A-24,002 (26,127).