SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers easily defeated the NBA-leading San Antonio Spurs 99-83 on Sunday, securing their seventh consecutive victory and ending the Spurs' impressive home winning streak. The Pacific Division-leading Lakers still trail the Spurs by six and a half games in the Western Conference but halted San Antonio’s record-setting home win streak at 22 games. Los Angeles dominated with a 26-5 run to close out the final 8:30 of the first quarter and extended their lead further in the second, leading 65-37 at halftime. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 26 points while Pau Gasol added 21. Tony Parker was the only Spurs starter to score in double digits with 14 points.
"We’re playing well and it’s kind of important to keep that going," said Bryant. "Today was a good test to see how much we’ve improved since the All-Star break. We passed today."
The Spurs struggled, shooting a poor 36 percent from the field, with the starters combining for just 29 points.
"That was an easy win for them. There was no game ralph lauren shirts," said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who managed only six points in over 23 minutes of play. "Nobody expects to be losing by more than 20 in the first quarter. They were making every shot Abercrombie and Fitch Hoodies, and they played more angrily. We were waiting to see what was going to happen, and they came to get it."
Despite holding a significant lead, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson reinserted his starters in the fourth quarter due to his dissatisfaction with the lack of focus shown by his reserves.
"I didn’t like the way our bench was playing. They just didn’t have a rhythm out there and they were settling for outside shots. They were just out of focus a little bit," said Jackson.
"They understand. It (the lead) got under 20 points and the foul situation was in their favor. You just have to be careful in this game. It’s a game of extremes."
(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor www.cheapralphlaurenonline.net, Ontario; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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