Parker scores 24 as Spurs beat slumping Lakers
SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker scored 24 points and the San Antonio Spurs handed the slumping Los Angeles Lakers their fifth straight loss with a 108-105 victory Wednesday night.
Manu Ginobili added 19 points and Tiago Splitter and Stephen Jackson had 14 each for San Antonio, which has won 11 straight at home.
Kobe Bryant had 27 points, Metta World Peace added 23 and Earl Clark 22 for Los Angeles. Bryant was 10 for 24 from the field, missing a 3-pointer on his final attempt that would have tied the game. Clark missed a follow-up 3 off a long rebound.
Coming off a 125-112 loss at Houston on Tuesday, the Lakers fought until the final buzzer.
Bryant’s 3-pointer pulled Los Angeles to 105-99 with 3:32 remaining. The 3 led to spirited dueling cries of support between a large contingent of Lakers fans seated near the Los Angeles bench and Spurs fans.
Antawn Jamison’s layup pulled the Lakers within 105-102 following a timeout, but Artest missed a layup and 3-pointer on consecutive possessions.
Ginobili hit a 3-pointer that gave the Spurs a six-point lead, but Clark responded with his own 3 to close to 108-105, setting up Bryant’s final attempt.
Parker’s 17-foot jumper gave the Spurs their largest lead at 83-66, but the Lakers quickly pared the 17-point deficit. Artest hit a 3, Bryant made a pair of jumpers and Clark had a 21-foot jumper to pull the Lakers to 83-75 with 49.3 seconds left in the third.
With Lakers big men Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill all missing the game with injuries, San Antonio only managed a 48-40 rebounding advantage.
NOTES: Lakers G Steve Blake (abdominal surgery) missed his 28th game of the season. . The Spurs had every player on their current roster active. . The Lakers haven’t lost five in a row since April 3-10, 2011. . The Lakers are 1-12 when trailing after the first quarter this season. . The Spurs evened their overall record against the Lakers at 74-all. San Antonio has a 46-29 advantage at home. . Bryant holds the Spurs opponent record for most field goal attempts — 41 on Feb. 14, 2004.