Spurs even series with Lakers

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Posted 7:31AM on Wednesday, May 8, 2002

LOS ANGELES - If the Los Angeles Lakers held a psychological advantage over the San Antonio Spurs - and that's up for debate - they don't anymore. The Spurs survived four turnovers by Tim Duncan in the final 2 1/2 minutes to beat the two-time defending champions 88-85 Tuesday night and even their Western Conference semifinal. ``It's huge for us,'' Duncan said. ``We really needed this one." The Lakers, who haven't played nearly to the championship form of last spring, had won 20 of their previous 21 postseason games and their last 18 home games. The best-of-seven series shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 Friday and Game 4 Sunday. In Tuesday night's other playoff game, New Jersey took a 2-0 lead over Charlotte in their Eastern Conference semifinal by beating the visiting Hornets 102-88. Detroit, up 1-0, plays the visiting Boston Celtics on Wednesday night in the other semifinal in the East. The Spurs led by as many as 21 points and were ahead 85-74 when Duncan made a free throw with 6:23 remaining. They would score only three more points, but that would be enough to snap their five-game playoff losing streak to the Lakers. ``We wanted to come in here and take one,'' said Duncan, who had 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and five blocks. ``We're right where we want to be.'' The Lakers drew within one with 1:31 left. Duncan committed the last of his 10 turnovers with 8 1/2 seconds to go when Shaquille O'Neal poked the ball away with the Spurs leading 87-85. The Lakers hurried down the court, but Kobe Bryant was called for traveling with 1.3 seconds to play. Duncan then made a free throw to complete the scoring. ``I lost control of the ball,'' Bryant said. ``I tried to tip it back to (Derek) Fisher. It was an obvious violation.'' Duncan said he had never committed 10 turnovers before. ``I've been real close, I've never gotten to double digits,'' he said. ``I need to be better about taking care of the ball. The next time the game plan is to complete my passes to our guys.'' The Spurs are trying to avenge a sweep by the Lakers in the 2001 conference finals, when they were outscored by 89 points in four games. ``They had to be scared, being up 21 points and having us come back the way we did,'' said Lakers forward Samaki Walker, who played for the Spurs last season. ``This definitely breaks down the mental wall. They have beaten Goliath.'' Duncan wasn't buying the imagery. ``They're only immortal to you guys,'' he told reporters. Added San Antonio's Bruce Bowen: ``We understand they're a great team and every team in this league is capable of making runs.'' Duncan, who shot 9-for-30 in the opener, which the Lakers won 86-80, was 10-of-19 in this game. ``There weren't any better looks, the ball just went down for me,'' said Duncan, who will officially receive the NBA's MVP award Thursday in San Antonio. Antonio Daniels added 14 points, Bowen scored a career playoff high 13 and Malik Rose had nine points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who went ahead for good late in the first quarter. San Antonio again played without David Robinson, who missed his sixth straight playoff game with a nerve problem in his lower back. Even though he didn't play, Rose said Robinson made a contribution. ``We held our composure, and that was a credit to David,'' Rose said. ``He told us what they were going to do late in the game, and he was right every time. He wasn't playing, but he was a leader for us.'' Bryant led the Lakers with 26 points, all but six in the second half, and said his bruised knee from Game 1 wasn't a problem. He did say O'Neal, who had 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, was bothered by the cut on his right finger that required three stitches in the opener. O'Neal left without speaking.