LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers made it known they are ready to return to the top of the Western Conference.
Karl Malone recorded his first triple-double in more than four years and Gary Payton and Kobe Bryant each scored 17 points as the Lakers celebrated the return of Shaquille O'Neal with a 103-87 rout of the San Antonio Spurs.
Los Angeles had its pursuit of a fourth consecutive NBA title ended by San Antonio in last season's Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers signed Malone and Payton as free agents in the offseason and won the first rematch at the SBC Center on October 6 as the Spurs played without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
"(The Lakers) did not just add two talented players, they added two Hall of Famers," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "They are hell on wheels right now and there is no reason why that should stop."
San Antonio had Duncan and Parker for this one but had little chance in its first visit to Staples Center since the decisive sixth game of last season's playoff matchup.
"(The Lakers) were very good tonight," Duncan said. "It's not a nightmare, they put together a good team and they executed well. They obviously outplayed us and that's that."
Malone collected 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists en route to his fourth career triple-double and first since May 4, 1999. He played just 26 minutes as Los Angeles coasted to its fifth straight win.
"It means a little something to me," he said. "To do it at age 40, oh yea. The most important thing is not to get caught up in the hoopla."
The Lakers shot 53 percent (19-of-36) in the first half en route to a 47-34 lead. They dominated even more in the second half, scoring a season-high 37 points on 14-of-22 shooting in the third quarter.
Devean George scored 12 of his season-high 19 points and Bryant and Payton added nine apiece in the third for the Lakers, who led by as many as 31 in the fourth.
"We made shots, passed the ball really well and played together," Payton said. "I think (the Spurs) were always on their heels."
O'Neal had just seven points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes as the Lakers extended their home winning streak to 24 games - matching the longest since the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1960.
"We are playing with some purpose," said O'Neal, who missed two games with a calf injury. "We did what we are supposed to do - stay dominant at home."
George made 8-of-9 shots, including both of his 3-pointers, and Payton was 8-of-11 from the floor for Los Angeles, which shot 53 percent (42-of-80) overall and made 6-of-10 from the arc.
Duncan was held to 11 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which has lost five of seven games away from home after being the NBA's best road team last season.
"We're still trying to find out team's personality," Duncan said. "That's what we're going to do on a nightly basis. I don't think we're there yet."
Parker scored 12 points but combined with Duncan to make just 9-of-27 shots as the Spurs were held to 39 percent (32-of-82) shooting.
"I don't know if we were that good or they were that bad," Lakers coach Jackson said. "They missed a lot of easy shots and we got a jump on them. Obviously, their shooting was not very good tonight."
