Spurs Stand in the Way of a Three-Game Streak

The Lakers are in unfamiliar territory with a new coach and an unclear immediate future, but there is one little nagging reminder that this is still the 2004-05 season.

The Lakers have yet to win three consecutive games, a position they can change tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers, 0-9 after winning two consecutive games this season, have never gone this far in a season without winning three consecutive games.

The task becomes that much more difficult considering the Spurs are 37-10 and have the league’s best record.

“If we’re going to win three in a row, we need to win games like this and beat teams like San Antonio,” center Chris Mihm said.

And they’ll have to do it a day after the official resignation of coach Rudy Tomjanovich.

“We still have to do our job,” forward Lamar Odom said. “It’s not asking too much.”

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Kobe Bryant, out since Jan. 13 because of a severely sprained right ankle, will not be eligible to win the scoring title if he does not play 70 games or total at least 1,400 points.

Bryant, the league’s second-leading scorer at 27.5 points a game, will sit out his 10th game of the season tonight and probably fall short of the required 70 games played. He would still be eligible to win the scoring title if he surpassed 1,400 points, a more realistic possibility. He has 934 points in 34 games.

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It’s not known if Bryant would be able to play in the All-Star game, but he is expected to become an official member of the Western Conference All-Star team tonight, when the starters are announced on a TNT show.

Bryant was a comfortable second to Houston’s Tracy McGrady among West guards in the most recent voting results released Jan. 20. Phoenix guard Steve Nash was third at the time. Nash, the league’s leader in assists, would still make the team as a reserve.

The All-Star game is Feb. 20 in Denver.

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TONIGHT

vs. San Antonio, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (570); KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 24-19; Spurs 37-10.

Record vs. Spurs -- 0-2.

Update -- The Spurs have won seven of their last eight games, including a convincing 103-84 victory Monday at Seattle. Guard Manu Ginobili is averaging 22.5 points over his last six games, including a 48-point outburst in a 128-123 overtime victory over Phoenix on Jan. 21. Tim Duncan averages 21.4 points and 11.9 rebounds. The Spurs handled the Lakers with ease both times they played, winning 105-96 at Staples Center and 100-83 at SBC Center.