SAN ANTONIO, March 20 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan scored 25 points in limited minutes Wednesday night as the San Antonio Spurs routed the Los Angeles Lakers, 108-90, for their season high-tying 10th straight victory.
The Spurs had not beaten the Lakers in more than a year. Their last win over the Lakers was a 93-89 overtime triumph on March 9, 2001, but the memory of that victory was erased by an embarrassing sweep in the Western Conference finals and losses in the first two meetings this season.
However, San Antonio caught Los Angeles at the right time in this one. In addition to being the hottest team in the NBA, the Spurs were rested. The Lakers, meanwhile, were coming off a loss in Dallas on Tuesday night.
The two-time defending NBA champions put up little resistance. The Lakers trailed by nine points in the first quarter and made just seven baskets in the middle two periods, falling behind, 62-40, at halftime and 87-56 after three quarters.
