Spurs host Lakers, continue home win streak

He failed to establish any rhythm.

While the Lakers missed out on Aldridge, whose 24 points and 11 rebounds carried the Spurs to a 109-87 win over the Lakers on Friday, Scott said the organization learned valuable lessons. The Spurs are 8-1 in back-to-back games this season and play again on Saturday.

At this point in his career, playing him 20-25 minutes a game would not only allow him to still play and play more effectively, but would give more quality playing time to the young tag team of Russell and Randle, who are getting better and better with each passing game and will only continue to grow leaps and bounds as the season goes on. Usually, that’s the right thing to do when you enter an organization.

“I don’t pitch too much”.

Rookie D’Angelo Russell had a career-high 24 points and added six assists and six rebounds for Los Angeles. Lou Williams scored 19 points, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. Unlike other past road opponents, the Spurs did not honor Bryant with any tribute since the Lakers will also play in San Antonio on February 6. Jordan Clarkson sat out, nursing the ankle injury he suffered against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Most of the meeting, 75 percent or more will be about the basketball part and the other part will be a little bit about the business part of it, as well”, Scott said.

San Antonio led by 17 with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. After Bryant tore his Achilles’ tendon in 2013, the Spurs easily swept the Lakers in the first round.

The Spurs and their fans were silent for much of the first quarter until the second unit energized both, as they have all season.

Mills scored 13 in the half.

Russell was aggressive from the opening tip as he was looking to facilitate and score with the ball in his hands.

The Lakers beat the Spurs in five in 2008. “We’ll see what the fans and the coaches decide, and then we’ll go from there”. “But that’s a great team”.

The Spurs, even while resting Tony Parker, were always going to be the better team than the Lakers on Friday night. With NBA All-Star balloting starting on Thursday, commissioner Adam Silver told SiriusXM NBA Radio that he hopes to see Bryant in Toronto for the 2016 All-Star Game. Barring the unlikely event that the Lakers make the playoffs, Bryant will retire with a 3-2 edge over San Antonio in playoff series won in which he participated.

In what is probably the final playoff tally, the Lakers and Bryant finish ahead, 18-16, with the Lakers winning four of seven series. Bryant’s 45 points against San Antonio in the 2001 Western Conference semifinals is a record by a Spurs’ playoff opponent.

“We don’t try to convince people, very honestly”, said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Because it’s as simple as that, especially for a guy who’s been in the league nine years.