Spurs defeat Lakers 100-83
By T.A. BADGER (Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-05 14:48

Bruce Bowen scored a career-high 24 points, including five 3-pointers, and helped limit Kobe Bryant to 17 points in the San Antonio Spurs' 100-83 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

San Antonio Spurs forward Bruce Bowen(12) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Caron Butler(1) during the third quarter in San Antonio, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005.[AP]

San Antonio matched a franchise record by making 15 3-pointers. The defense-oriented Spurs held the Lakers to just 32 points in the first half.

Brent Barry made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points for San Antonio, which led by as much as 29. Manu Ginobili had 13 and Tim Duncan scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Bryant scored at least 40 points in the Lakers' three previous games, but Bowen held him to 12 below his average on 5-for-16 shooting.

Slava Medvedenko scored 16 points in the fourth quarter for Los Angeles.

Bowen made back-to-back 3-pointers in the opening minutes to give the Spurs a 12-6 lead. San Antonio made six of its 10 3-point attempts in the quarter, which ended with the Spurs ahead 32-18.

Tierre Brown made a jumper and Jumaine Jones a layup early in the second to make it 37-22, and then Los Angeles went without a field goal for nearly seven minutes.

By the time Bryant hit a 4-footer with 2:45 left in the half, the Lakers trailed by 27 points.

Los Angeles shot 4-for-22 (18 percent) in the second quarter, while the Spurs went 10-for-19 (53 percent) in the period and 57.5 percent in the half.

San Antonio's shooting cooled in the second half, but the Lakers couldn't get closer than 20 until the final minutes.

The Spurs' ball movement was effective against the Lakers' defense. San Antonio recorded 30 assists, 10 of them by Tony Parker, on its 40 baskets in the game.

Bowen's previous high was 22 points, set Nov. 13 at Atlanta. ... The Lakers' season low for a first half is 28 in a loss at Utah on Nov. 3. ... San Antonio is now 6-1 against Pacific Division opponents, the only loss coming Sunday in Sacramento. ... Los Angeles plays in Dallas on Wednesday night.

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