SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Tony Parker led San Antonio to a big fourth-quarter lead Wednesday and the Spurs held on to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-105.
The Lakers lost their fifth straight game and have fallen five games below the breakeven mark.
San Antonio bounced back from an unexpected loss to New Orleans to win for the ninth time in 11 contests and the Spurs improved their home record to 15-2 -- best in the NBA.
Parker hit 10-of-16 shots from the field and scored 24 points. San Antonio led by 16 with 7:11 to play, then fought off the Lakers thanks in part to a key 3-pointer from Manu Ginobili with 43 seconds remaining.
Ginobili had 19 points and both Tiago Splitter and Stephen Jackson had 14. Jackson was ejected from the game with 3:32 to play.
Kobe Bryant scored 27 points for the Lakers, but made just 10-of-24 shots. The Lakers will now play four consecutive home games, although two of them will be against defending conference champions Oklahoma City and Miami.
