LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers seek a fifth straight victory when they reprise their rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of one of the most exciting games of the early season.
Los Angeles posted a 120-117 victory in double overtime at San Antonio on November 6. The Spurs played without injured Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, but put forth a valiant effort behind Manu Ginobili.
Ginobili posted career highs of 33 points and 12 rebounds in almost single handedly beating Los Angeles. Malik Rose added 15 points for the Spurs, who ousted the Lakers in six games in the Western Conference semifinals last season.
Los Angeles got huge efforts from Kobe Bryant, who scored 27 points and Shaquille O'Neal, who collected 35 and 20 rebounds. Fellow future Hall of Famers Gary Payton scored 16 points and Karl Malone added 15 and 19 rebounds.
O'Neal sat out his second straight game as the Lakers improved to 8-0 at home with Wednesday's 120-99 rout of Washington. O'Neal is set to return for Friday.
Bryant scored 22 points and Devean George added 18 as Los Angeles shot a blistering 61 percent. The Lakers built a 61-36 halftime cushion and never looked back. Ginobili just missed a triple-double in Wednesday's 109-98 victory over Chicago, registering 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Duncan netted 16 points.
San Antonio, which is 2-4 on the road, swept both regular-season meetings at Los Angeles last season before losing two of three here in the postseason.
