The Lakers and Spurs meet for the final time this season, with the L.A. trailing the season series two games to one. The Lakers are coming off a memorable performance against the New Orleans Hornets 
in their biggest game of the season Friday night, blowing a 30 point lead before taking over the game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The Spurs are coming off a victory of their own against the lowly Seattle Supersonics.
The Lakers lost their last game to their longtime rivals 103-91 in Texas in January. However, the Lakers were playing without Bynum and Gasol had yet to join the team, helping to explain Tim Duncan’s stellar 28 point, 17 rebound performance.
The Spurs will be without leading scorer (20 points) Manu Ginobili for today’s matinee affair due to a left abductor strain injury. Robert Horry and Brent Barry are also out for the defending champions. Manu’s injury is untimely for the Spurs who have already had all kinda of trouble scoring points of late, averaging only 72 in losing three of four prior to their victory Friday night.
Entering the game, the Lakers are a half game ahead of both the Spurs and Rockets and can win the tiebreaker against San Antonio with a win today. Due to New Orleans’ potentially costly loss to Sacramento last night, L.A. still has a chance to secure the number one seed in the Western Conference should they win their remaining two games and the Houston Rockets lose one more game.
