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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- With Tim Duncan injured, David Robinson and
the Spurs reserves clinched homecourt advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
San Antonio came back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth
quarter for a 103-98 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers
on Wednesday night.
|  | | David Robinson, who led the Spurs with 17 points, shoots over the Lakers' A.C. Green. |
David Robinson scored six points in overtime and four Spurs
reserves scored in double figures -- including Antonio Daniels with
11 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
"Boy, we're actually starting to turn into a team again. That's
a lot of fun," Robinson said.
San Antonio had to win to clinch homecourt advantage in the
best-of-five first-round series against Phoenix. The teams were
tied heading into Wednesday's games, and the Spurs owned the
tiebreaker.
Duncan again was sidelined because of torn cartilage in his left
knee. It was the fourth game he's missed with the injury, and it's
questionable whether he'll be ready for the start of the playoffs.
Robinson led the Spurs with 17 points.
"I know I keep sounding like a broken record, but I'm real
happy for these guys," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "They've
been playing well the past month and I'm just happy to get this
done."
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 23 points, and Shaquille O'Neal
had 22.
The Spurs got off to a quick start in overtime on field goals by
Daniels and Robinson and outscored Los Angeles 14-9 in the extra
period.
With 1:39 left in overtime, Robinson picked up a foul guarding
O'Neal and fell to the floor as O'Neal elbowed him in the ribs.
O'Neal was called for a technical foul, and Popovich was so mad
over the incident he had to be held back at the bench by his
assistants.
"It was unnecessary," Robinson said. "It (O'Neal's elbow) was
after the play. I'm just glad the referees saw it as so."
O'Neal left the Alamodome without commenting.
Unlike the Spurs, the Lakers had nothing at stake in the game.
But coach Phil Jackson said his team was trying its best to win
despite using mostly reserves down the stretch.
"The second unit had a 17-point lead. They had an obligation to
take it home," Jackson said. "We wanted to have a competitive
game, and we got that."
The Lakers led 48-40 at halftime. Though the Spurs lurked close
behind until midway through the third quarter, a 16-3 Los Angeles
run opened a double-digit lead for the Lakers -- 72-57 with 2:11
left in the period.
With a 74-61 advantage entering the fourth quarter, the Lakers
inched further ahead and led by 17 points two minutes into the
period. Then a 10-0 by Spurs reserves got San Antonio back in it.
San Antonio pulled to 84-81 on a dunk and follow-up free throw
by Malik Rose with 4:48 remaining. A 3-pointer by Daniels tied the
game at 84-84, two free throws by Terry Porter moved the Spurs
ahead and a hook shot by Samaki Walker gave San Antonio a
four-point lead with 1:58 remaining.
The Lakers went more than seven minutes in the fourth without a
field goal before tying the game at 89-89 with 29 seconds left on a
3-pointer by Devean George.
The Spurs ran out the shot clock on their next possession, and
Bryant missed a long jumper to send the game to overtime.
"We just didn't execute," Bryant said. "We wanted to relax
and not get injured. Now is the time to get ready for Saturday or
Sunday."
The Lakers, who open the playoffs this weekend against
Sacramento, finished the regular season with a league-best record
of 67-15. It's the second-best record in franchise history.
Game notes
O'Neal was 4-for-8 from the foul line. ... Daniels also had
10 assists to go along with his 11 points for his first
double-double in his two years with San Antonio. ... Lakers coach
Phil Jackson once again had a choice comment about the Spurs
winning the NBA title during last year's lockout-shortened season.
"It wasn't a regular season. This is a regular season. Where is
San Antonio finishing, fifth or fourth? That's the key. Last year
they had a shortened season." Jackson made a similar remark
earlier this year ... Andrew Gaze, a member of San Antonio's
championship team last year, was in the Alamodome crowd. Duncan
greeted him at halftime with a big hug. Gaze played basketball in
his native Australia this year.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Lakers Clubhouse
San Antonio Clubhouse
Spurs' Duncan shows improvement, questionable for opener
RECAPS
Boston 112
New York 85
Charlotte 83
Miami 73
Detroit 112
Chicago 91
Cleveland 111
New Jersey 108
Orlando 106
Toronto 100
Indiana 111
Atlanta 92
Milwaukee 110
Washington 105
Dallas 113
Minnesota 107
San Antonio 103
LA Lakers 98
Vancouver 96
Houston 92
Denver 96
Portland 95
LA Clippers 114
Seattle 106
Phoenix 99
Golden State 88
Utah 95
Sacramento 86
AUDIO/VIDEO
 It was nice to beat the Lakers, but David Robinson is looking towards the Suns.
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