Halftime: Lakers 53, Spurs 38

SAN ANTONIO -- The Lakers came to play, shooting 64 percent while rocketing to an 18-point lead by the end of the first quarter. The Spurs regrouped to cut it to eight in the second quarter, but the Lakers raced away again just before halftime. The Lakers were so good that San Antonio Gregg Popovich was moved to play Drew Gooden for the first time since he signed with the Spurs on March 5. Popovich said before the game that he wasn't sure he would play Gooden. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 14 points and Pau Gasol had 12. Michel Finley led the sputtering Spurs with 17 points in the first half.