Spurs send depleted Lakers packing
LOS ANGELES-NAMPA/AFP
Tony Parker led five San Antonio players in double figures on Sunday as Spurs beat the depleted, dispirited Los Angeles Lakers 103-82 to knock them out of the NBA playoffs.
Parker scored 23 points as San Antonio completed a four-game sweep in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series - the first time the 16-time champion Lakers had been swept in a first-round series since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in the 1983-84 season.
Obviously, I'm happy we won, but it's just weird, Parker admitted after Spurs posted their fourth straight double-digit victories over the Lakers. The Los Angeles team scraped into the playoffs, but had to make do without superstar Kobe Bryant, who tore an Achilles tendon in the final week of the regular season.
The Lakers were not only missing Bryant, but also injured point guard Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks and veteran Metta World Peace.
To make matters worse, big man Dwight Howard was ejected from the game after receiving a second technical foul shortly after halftime.
He had been whistled for his first technical with 50,3 seconds left in the first quarter for elbowing San Antonio guard Cory Joseph, and was slapped with the second for arguing with an official.
Howard finished with seven points, eight rebounds and five turnovers before exiting what may have been his last game as a Lakers player, since he becomes a free agent on July 1.
Pau Gasol -who battled knee tendinitis and a foot injury during the season- led the Lakers with 16 points, but Los Angeles never led and never really threatened.
Bryant made an appearance in the courtside seats, hobbling off on crutches as time expired.
Obviously, it wasn't a fair fight, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the lopsided series. But having said that, they came to play every night... What I was pleased about with our team is that we kept our focus every night. We respected them every night.
Tim Duncan had 11 points and six rebounds for the Spurs.
Kawhi Leonard and DeJuan Blair added 13 points apiece and Gary Neal contributed 11.
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