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Duncan hurt, but Spurs hold off Lakers
Tony Parker had 22 points and nine assists, Tim Duncan scored 17 points despite hyperextending his left knee, and the San Antonio Spurs held off the Los Angeles Lakers 103-91 Thursday night.
The game was the first for the Lakers since Rudy Tomjanovich resigned as coach, citing health concerns. Frank Hamblen, Tomjanovich's replacement, lobbied for the return of Phil Jackson before the game.
The Spurs outscored Los Angeles 37-15 in the third quarter for an 80-55 lead, and led 89-61 early in the fourth when the Lakers went on a 23-2 run to draw within seven points with 3:51 remaining.
But that was as close as they would get.
Duncan was injured with 8:40 left before halftime in a collision with Caron Butler, and sat out the rest of the second quarter.
Duncan started the second half and had nine points and five rebounds in the third quarter before coming out for good with 3:39 to play in the period.
Malik Rose had season-high totals of 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Manu Ginobili had 17 points and nine assists for the Spurs (38-10), who have won four straight and eight of nine.
Lamar Odom had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers (24-20), who missed another opportunity for a season-high three-game winning streak. They've won consecutive games 10 times, but failed in each of those situations to win a third straight.
Chucky Atkins added 18 points and Butler scored 14 for Los Angeles.
Hamblen, a 57-year-old career assistant, has five championship rings, all earned as an assistant under Jackson with the Lakers and Chicago Bulls.
"I just feel like I'm keeping the seat warm," Hamblen said.
When asked who for, he replied: "I have no idea."
Then, Hamblen said: "I'd love for Phil to come back any day, to be honest with you."
Tomjanovich succeeded Jackson last summer, signing a five-year, $30 million contract. Jackson had an identical deal that expired after last season, and he wasn't asked to return.
Jackson coached the Lakers to championships in his first three years on the job and guided them to the NBA Finals last June, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has acknowledged that Jackson's name would come up in discussions. But Kupchak didn't rule out the possibility that Hamblen would coach the rest of the season, or beyond.
Hamblen served as acting head coach in the previous two games, which Tomjanovich missed because of a stomach virus. It was during that time that Tomjanovich decided to step down.
The Lakers are 5-5 without Kobe Bryant, who hasn't played since spraining his right ankle Jan. 13. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his team remains interested in 41-year-old free agent Karl Malone, who is mulling retirement. Malone, the second-leading scorer in NBA history who played for the Lakers last year, hasn't played this season after undergoing knee surgery last summer. ... The Lakers play 24 of their last 38 games on the road, starting Sunday when they begin a five-game trip in Houston. They've played an NBA-low 17 road games. "We look forward to it," said Bryant, who hopes to return sometime on the trip. "That's where you bond — on the road." ... The Spurs have five games remaining on a seven-game road trip, but don't play again until Tuesday, when they meet Charlotte in the first of three games in four nights. So they'll spend the weekend in San Antonio. "Kind of strange, isn't it?" Popovich said of going home during a road trip. ... Popovich said he's hopeful C Rasho Nesterovic, who has missed six games due to a sprained left ankle, will play at Charlotte. ... Bryant, a Philadelphia Eagles fan, wore a Donovan McNabb jersey as he watched from the bench.
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