Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Officials: #61 Courtney Kirkland, #41 Ken Mauer, #64 Eli Roe
Attendance: 18997
Antonio McDyess’ buzzer-beating tip-in gave the San Antonio Spurs a dramatic 89-88 victory over the host Los Angeles Lakers in Thursday’s showdown between the top two teams in the Western Conference.
McDyess leaped high and used his left hand to tip in a miss by Tim Duncan as San Antonio improved its NBA-best record to 41-8.
Pau Gasol put the Lakers ahead with two free throws with 22.7 seconds left. Los Angeles (34-16) has lost five of its last eight games.
Tony Parker scored 21 points and Richard Jefferson added 18 points to pace San Antonio.
Gasol had a team-high 19 points and Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant added 16 points apiece for the Lakers.
Bryant had nine rebounds and 10 assists but endured a tough 5-of-18 shooting game. It was the second time he has struggled against San Antonio this season. Bryant made just 8 of 27 shots when the Lakers lost to the Spurs in late December.
San Antonio led 87-83 before Odom hit a 3-pointer with a minute left and Gasol hit the two free throws. The Spurs missed three shots over an 11-second span before McDyess tipped in the game-winning basket.
Ron Artest scored 13 points and Andrew Bynum added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers.
| San Antonio | L.A. Lakers | |
| Tony Parker 21 | Scoring | Pau Gasol 19 |
| Manu Ginobili 8 | Assists | Kobe Bryant 10 |
| Tim Duncan 8 | Rebounds | Andrew Bynum 10 |
| Manu Ginobili 3 | Free Throws Made | Kobe Bryant 6 |
| DeJuan Blair 3 | Steals | Metta World Peace 2 |
| Tim Duncan 2 | Blocks | Andrew Bynum 3 |
| Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
| San Antonio | 89 | 41.2 | 6-16 | 13-17 | 20 | 38 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| L.A. Lakers | 88 | 42.5 | 2-14 | 18-22 | 24 | 44 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
- L.A. Lakers will play their next game on the road against New Orleans. The Lakers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
- San Antonio will play their next game on the road against Sacramento. The Spurs have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.