Spurs Block Lakers Robinson Comes Through Big As San Antonio Wins In Ot

They tossed up bricks all game and needed a couple of blown foul shots by Vlade Divac to escape.

The San Antonio Spurs are delighted all the same. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers 97-90 in overtime Monday night and lead the NBA Western Conference semifinal 2-0. Game 3 of the the best-of-seven series is Friday night in Los Angeles.

David Robinson had a dreadful shooting game, but made a crucial field goal and two free throws in the OT to carry the Spurs.

“I missed layups all night,” Robinson said. “But in the playoffs you win on defense.”

And on the boards. Dennis Rodman grabbed 22 rebounds, a San Antonio playoff record, and Robinson added 16 along with five blocked shots.

Each finished with 22 points - an average game for Robinson, an exceptional game for Rodman, a player who ordinarily removes himself from the offensive flow but was 10 of 13 from the floor Monday.

“It just came to me,” Rodman said.

The Spurs made a perilous escape in regulation. With less than 5 seconds left and the score 83-83, Divac went to the line for two shots. But the Lakers center missed both, forcing overtime.

Robinson shot only 5 for 24 during regulation, but with 1:54 left in the extra period he grabbed the ball after he missed a shot and made a basket to give the Spurs a 90-86 lead.

He sank two free throws with 1:14 remaining when Elden Campbell fouled him and left the game. The 92-86 advantage sealed it for the Spurs.

“We had incredible confidence down the stretch, and I think that came through,” Robinson said.

The Spurs’ shooting touch was another matter. It’s not often a team hits 35 percent from the floor in the playoffs and wins, but the Spurs did just that. The Lakers helped the cause by shooting 39 percent from the floor and 68 percent from the line.

Campbell led the Lakers with 25 points and 18 rebounds. Eddie Jones scored 20 points and Nick Van Exel had 17 plus 10 assists. The Lakers were outrebounded 62-46 and scored only two field goals in overtime, both in the last 10 seconds.

The Spurs won Game 1 Saturday 110-94. Game 2 marked the fifth consecutive playoff victory for the Spurs, who haven’t lost at all in this postseason.

Rodman tied it 83-83 with a field goal with 26.2 seconds remaining in regulation. Then, under the Lakers’ basket, Rodman collected his sixth foul and sent Divac to the line, setting up the two missed shots and the overtime.

Spurs 97, Lakers 90

L.A. LAKERS (90)

Ceballos 1-5 0-0 2, Campbell 11-22 3-5 25, Divac 3-12 4-6 11, Peeler 0-3 2-2 2, Van Exel 6-16 4-4 17, Jones 7-15 3-4 20, Bowie 0-3 0-0 0, Lynch 6-11 1-4 13, Smith 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-87 17-25 90.

SAN ANTONIO (97)

Rodman 10-13 2-4 22, Elliott 3-12 6-7 13, Robinson 6-26 10-10 22, Johnson 5-12 2-5 12, Del Negro 2-7 2-2 6,Person 2-7 1-2 7, Reid 2-6 2-2 6, Rivers 0-3 6-6 6, Cummings 1-3 1-2 3, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-89 32-40 97.

L.A. Lakers 20 20 20 23 7 - 90 San Ant. 26 23 14 20 14 - 97

3-Point goals-Los Angeles 5-18 (Jones 3-6, Divac 1-3, Van Exel 1-6, Peeler 0-1, Lynch 0-2), San Antonio 3-12 (Person 2-6, Elliott 1-3, Rivers 0-3). Fouled out-Campbell, Rodman. Rebounds-Los Angeles 54 (Campbell 18), San Antonio 73 (Rodman 22). Assists-Los Angeles 22 (Van Exel 10), San Antonio 24 (Johnson 9). Total fouls-Los Angeles 28, San Antonio 22. Technicals-Van Exel, Ceballos, Los Angeles coach Harris. A-26,127 (34,215).