Lamar Odom takes the fall for Lakers’ loss to Spurs

His eyes moved back and forth, his head was tilted and his voice was low.

It was time for Lamar Odom to explain what happened during the last few frantic seconds, to tell his side of the story of how his man made the last-second tip-in that sent the Lakers to an 89-88 defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at Staples Center.

Basically, Odom took the blame for allowing Antonio McDyess to be the man of the hour with his game-winning basket.

It began with Tim Duncan getting the ball on the wing with 4.6 seconds left.

McDyess was on the opposite side, at the corner of the free-throw line. Odom was in front of McDyess.

As Duncan began to make his move to his left with Pau Gasol on his hip, McDyess started moving to the lane, slowing getting inside of Odom and the basket.

Odom turned his head to look at Duncan when he shot the ball with 2.1 seconds left.

By now, McDyess was under the basket, waiting and watching as the ball took flight.

When Duncan’s shot missed, McDyess leaped into the air and tipped the ball in with his left hand with 00.1 seconds left.

The ball settled into the net as time expired.

“I’ve got to make that play towards the end,” Odom said. “I got caught watching Duncan take the shot and didn’t box out. McDyess got position. He beat me.”

The Lakers had an 88-87 lead after Gasol made two free throws with 22.7 seconds left.

Out of a timeout, Manu Ginobili missed a three-pointer with 11.9 seconds left.

McDyess tipped the ball back out.

Tony Parker missed a runner, but Ron Artest was unable to get the rebound, leaving the door open for the Spurs with 4.6 seconds left.

San Antonio took advantage, winning the game because McDyess was in the right place at the right time yet again.

“They just got a great bounce,” said Kobe Bryant, who fell one rebound short of a triple-double with 16 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. “It just bounced right to him.”

The Lakers have lost both games to the Spurs this season.

The Lakers are 4-5 in last nine games and they have lost three of last four home games.

“Anytime you lose a game like this, it hurts a little bit,” said Odom, who had 16 points and six rebounds. “We competed. We didn’t finish tonight. There was one more play to make and they made it tonight.”

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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