Lakers beaten in series opener
Defending champion San Antonio won its 16th straight game.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal says his team got a good look at the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series. Next time the Lakers will be ready.
Los Angeles shot poorly in the first half Sunday, staged a bold rally in the third quarter, then collapsed in the fourth in an 88-78 loss to the defending champion Spurs.
"This game was a 'feel-out' game so we know how the series is going to go," said O'Neal, who made only one basket and had no rebounds in the fourth quarter. "We'll go back home and review some tapes, practice on a few things and we'll be ready."
Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinal is Wednesday in San Antonio, with the Spurs going for their 17th straight win.
Duncan leads Spurs
Tim Duncan scored 12 of his 30 points in the final period, including three straight jumpers in a late 10-0 run, to lead the Spurs' comeback.
Los Angeles, leading 65-62 after three periods, committed 10 turnovers and scored only 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Lakers were held without a field goal for a six-minute span, and San Antonio had seven steals in the quarter.
"We tried to force-feed Shaq, and they got four or five turnovers out of that that helped them get back into the game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "By and large, we were victims of our own inability to execute."
Duncan drew double-teams almost every time he got the ball in the second half, causing him trouble both posting up and driving. After scoring 15 points in the first two periods, he had only one basket in the third.
He scored on a layup and a jumper in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, then made his three straight jumpers in the decisive run.
"There's not a whole lot of secrets about what we do and what they do," Duncan said. "It's about going out there and imposing your will."
San Antonio's 10-0 spurt ended with a breakaway dunk by Manu Ginobili off a pass from Duncan, putting the Spurs ahead 83-71.
San Antonio outscored the Lakers 17-3 on fast-break points in the game.
"That difference in fast-break points is what they want," said Kobe Bryant, who had 31 points and 10 rebounds. "That's the type of series they want to have, a transition series."
Tony Parker added 20 points and nine assists, while Ginobili had 11 points.
Bryant struggles at end
The Spurs also held down Bryant in the fourth quarter, limiting him to six points on 2-for-6 shooting after he scored 12 in the third period to put the Lakers ahead. Bryant also got a technical foul in the quarter after he went nose to nose with Rasho Nesterovic.
"Kobe got hot, so we just tried to hang in there and get the quarter over," said Parker, who scored 13 of his points in the third period.
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