Jackson Wants Decisive Victory

Feb. 1 was nine weeks and 30 Laker victories ago, but that date was alive in the minds of the Lakers as they readied for tonight’s first meeting with the San Antonio Spurs since losing by 24 points at the Alamodome.

“This is a team we not only want to beat, we want to beat soundly,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said of the defending champion Spurs after Friday’s practice.

“We want to let them know that it’s going to be very difficult to play us in the playoffs. That whatever they consider Feb. 1 was, it was an illusion.”

The Spurs, who counter Shaquille O’Neal with Tim Duncan and David Robinson, have won six of their last seven meetings with the Lakers, counting the last regular-season matchup last season and the four-game sweep in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Lakers, who are 30-1 since that Spur defeat, conclude the regular season at the Alamodome on April 19.

Forward Rick Fox said the Lakers know they may face the Spurs in the second round of this season’s playoffs and don’t want to go into the postseason with any doubts.

“I know they’ve got a championship,” Fox said. “They have to still feel good about their chances, the return of Sean Elliott [after a kidney transplant]. . . . Yes, we look at them as the team we have to dethrone in the Western Conference.”

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Jackson said the keys to beating the Spurs are keeping O’Neal out of early foul trouble (he picked up two quick fouls in the last meeting) and not allowing point guard Avery Johnson to penetrate.

But Jackson, whose Chicago Bulls won the three previous titles, also suggested that it’s hard for him to consider the Spurs as true defending champions after last season’s lockout-shortened schedule.

“They showed their moxie last year in an abbreviated season, winning the asterisk season,” Jackson said.

“Anybody that hasn’t played an 82-game season . . . it’ll always go into the books. But you don’t know what a team has until they’ve played an 82-game season and you come out in the end.

“Last year’s season was very difficult, very unusual, and they were the best team in the league last year.”

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O’Neal left practice early to get an examination of his sore left ankle--he apparently hurt it Wednesday against Golden State and didn’t feel pain until the plane ride home--but X-rays revealed no ligament or bone damage. He is listed as day-to-day.

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The Lakers dimmed the lights on their practice floor and pulled out mats for a voluntary stretching/yoga session. Most of the players participated; Jackson left to attend the Davis Cup matches at the Great Western Forum.

TONIGHT

vs. San Antonio, 5:30

Channel 4

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 64-12, Spurs 47-28.

* Record vs. Spurs--1-1.

* Update--San Antonio appeared to be gearing up for a hard drive to get themselves into prime playoff shape, but the Spurs have dropped their last three in a row and have fallen behind the Phoenix Suns for the No. 4 seeding, which means they would have to start the playoffs in Phoenix. The winner of that series would face the Lakers, if the Lakers beat the No. 8 team in the first round.

* Tickets--Sold out.