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Laker Fortunes in Turnaround

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Times Staff Writer

Eight consecutive turnaround heaves from Derek Fisher still wouldn’t have helped the Lakers.

A lot was needed, and not a lot was delivered, in the Lakers’ first visit to San Antonio since they stole Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals, and the hearts of the Spurs’ city, almost eight months ago.

Revenge for a playoff ouster cannot be carried out with a regular-season victory, but the Spurs trounced the Lakers, 100-83, Tuesday in front of 18,797, on a night when the Spurs dominated even though Bruce Bowen doubled Tim Duncan’s scoring output and Beno Udrih more than quadrupled Tony Parker’s point total.

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The Lakers made the record books in another dubious category -- the Spurs tied a franchise record by making 15 three-pointers -- and Kobe Bryant’s string of three consecutive games of 40-plus points ended decisively with 17 points on five-for-16 shooting.

The Lakers’ struggles weren’t restricted to what took place at SBC Center.

Half a continent away, Vlade Divac received the news that a specialist had recommended back surgery, a reality that could cost the Laker center about 12 weeks if he chooses surgery. Divac, who has played only eight games this season, will seek a second opinion today.

Meanwhile, the SBC Center crowd lustily booed Bryant during introductions, before a 29-point Spur lead in the second quarter tilted the arena’s attention toward the Orange Bowl, with frequent scoreboard updates and a punch line that circulated on press row: USC outscored the Lakers in the first half, 38-32.

Afterward, in a silver-lining search of sorts, Bryant found a few positives.

“At least they fed us after the game,” he said. “They’ve got the USC game on here [in the locker room] to make us feel real good. I had me some German chocolate cake, carrot cake, parmesan chicken, vegetable lasagna. It feels good.”

Postgame sarcasm became an option after the Spurs had assists on 12 of their first 13 baskets and took a 32-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. At one point, the Lakers had one assist and the Spurs had 18 on the way to a 54-25 San Antonio lead with three minutes left in the second quarter.

The Lakers, living or leaving by the three-point shot, made only two of 14. The Spurs made 15 of 30.

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“This was one of the worst games we played the whole year,” said forward Lamar Odom, who made three of 10 shots and had 10 points. “Everybody was wide open. It was a pretty easy game for them tonight. I’m a little embarrassed.”

It wasn’t so much the Timmy and Tony show, as it has been in so many playoff series over so many seasons against the Lakers. Duncan scored a modest 12 points in 28 minutes and Parker had only two in 29.

Instead, it was Bowen hitting for 24 points, the most he has ever scored in a regular-season game, and struggling sharp-shooter Brent Barry scoring 14, and Udrih finishing with nine.

Where once there were Fisher flings and general barbs fired in the direction of the city of San Antonio -- the supposed land of conventioneers and tourist traps, if the former Laker coach is to be taken at his word -- there was only silence afterward and a thankfulness that the game didn’t take more out of the Lakers, who play in Dallas tonight.

“The only good thing about today is that it didn’t get extended all the way into the fourth quarter and we might be a little more rested,” Laker Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.

Bryant missed all five of his three-point attempts and had only two assists, his second-lowest total of the season. He played 35 minutes, the fewest he has played in 23 games.

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On the other side, the Spurs played without fatigue and failure, pushing the ball up and down, no longer a team limited to pounding the ball down low to Duncan.

“What makes them tougher now is they’ve got the explosive running game,” Tomjanovich said. “They’ve always been a good halfcourt team

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