Halftime: Spurs 48, Lakers 40

The Lakers were within three points of the Spurs in the closing seconds of the half today and then melted down. Ron Artest and Manu Giinobili of the Spurs got tangled up while San Antonio was trying to inbound the ball. Technical fouls were called on each with 59 seconds left. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant got mad and got a T, too. Giniobili hit all three free throws and the Spurs were up 43-37. Ginobili then scored after a steal and it was 45-37. After Artest made a 3-pointer, Keith Bogans countered with a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer and it was 48-40. The Lakers started with a 21-13 lead. Pau Gasol scored 15 points in the first half for the Lakers, making 7 of 11 shots. Ginobili had 14. The Lakers need a victory today in order to clinch the best record in the Western Conference.