It’s Quickly Apparent Lakers Are Spurred : NBA playoffs: Van Exel fuels a first quarter that ends with San Antonio behind, 28-11, en route to defeat in Game 3.

So how did Willie Anderson of the San Antonio Spurs know Nick Van Exel was feeling excellent about his jump shot Friday night?

“He pulled up nearly half-court, shot it and made it,” Anderson said. “He was feeling it. The way he was shooting the ball, nobody in the league could stop him.”

Not much or anyone halted Van Exel at the Forum in the Lakers’ 92-85 victory over the Spurs, who still find themselves leading, 2-1, in the best-of-seven series.

Van Exel made four three-point shots and finished with 25 points; two of the three-pointers came in the telltale first quarter that ended with the Lakers leading, 28-11.

Coach Bob Hill said he had to give the Lakers some credit.

“Summer could be right around the corner, but they came out ready to play,” said Hill, who just saw his Spurs lose their first playoff game after five victories.

At least the Spurs were able to fill out their itinerary, which now includes a trip back to San Antonio for a Game 5. Anything more is still under discussion, continuing Sunday in the Forum for Game 4.

Anderson said the Spurs have some adjustments to make.

“We were thinking sweep,” he said. “We felt we could do it, but they proved us wrong.

“Playing in this building with the crowd cheering, they really feed off it. It’s like getting their Showtime attitude back.”

It might help the Spurs to get their shooting touch back. For the second game in a row, they shot below 40%.

Avery Johnson said it’s unfamiliar territory for the Spurs, who are used to better.

“It’s the first time we have been in this situation for a long time,” Johnson said. “It’s not a concern.”

What concerned Hill was the slow start, but while giving the Lakers credit, he hastened to point out that the team he coaches still leads the series.

“We’re still up, 2-1, and we still have the home-court advantage,” he said. “We have a chance to get them back Sunday.

“A loss every once in a while is healthy. We haven’t played well in this series yet, at least not what we’re capable of.”

Hill wished the Spurs could have done something about the slow start.

“They put us in a position to catch up all night,” he said. “They staggered us a little bit. . . . We lost our composure. We never got over the hump. This makes Game 4 more important for us.”

Doc Rivers blamed the Spurs’ first quarter on energy deficit.

“There’s no excuse for that,” he said. “They won a game and they’re feeling good about themselves, but we feel that we can win this next one.”

Johnson, who made one of nine shots, said things will be better.

“It’s not that we feel all right,” he said. “We just lost a tough ballgame. But we knew they were going to be emotional. We expected that. I think we played back on our heels. The way we manage this loss is going to really help us. I think we’ll be OK.”