Fox: Spurs Are Still Scared

If the San Antonio Spurs thought they made a statement when they handed the Lakers an 18-point defeat 11 days ago at the Alamodome, they should know better.

“Wash that down, it’s gone down the drain,� said Laker Coach Phil Jackson about the March 20 game, which ended the Spurs’ six-game losing streak against the Lakers.

Keeping their focus has been a challenge for the Lakers, but that shouldn’t be a problem today when they face the Spurs in a key Western Conference matchup at Staples Center.

“We talked this morning about needing the stimulation of important games to bring meaning to the ball games,� Jackson said after the Lakers’ practice Saturday. “This one certainly has it. We anticipate a good effort. Whether we win or lose is not the question, it’s the effort that we put out there.�

The last time the Lakers played the Spurs, they were playing their second road game in as many nights and San Antonio was coming off a four-day break. The setting for today’s game is a little different.

The Lakers are coming off an impressive 12-point home victory over Portland on Friday, while the Spurs are playing the final game of a four-game West Coast trip. San Antonio is also on a two-game losing streak. After winning 13 games in a row, the Spurs averaged 84.5 points in consecutive losses at Portland and Seattle.

“They’re still scared,� Laker forward Rick Fox said of the Spurs. “They’ve been on the road for most of the week here now and we’re coming off a nice victory. And I don’t know what our record is on NBC, but as Phil always tells us, we’ll try and make our mothers proud.�

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Having Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant provide most of the scoring for the Lakers may have been an issue early in the season, but it doesn’t seem to be one now for Jackson with the playoffs right around the corner.

“It doesn’t bother me at all,� Jackson said. “Whatever a team needs to do win a ballgame is what you have to do.�

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TODAY

vs. San Antonio

2:30 p.m., Channel 4

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KLAC (570), KTMS (990), KWKW (1330).

Records--Lakers 51-21, Spurs 49-23.

Record vs. Spurs--2-1.

Update--San Antonio will be without Terry Porter, who is on the injured list because of a strained right calf. Tim Duncan leads the league with 58 double-doubles and is second in rebounding with 12.7 a game.

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Lonnie White