Kobe tries to pass Jordan as Lakers take on Spurs

(SportsNetwork.com) - The San Antonio Spurs will welcome Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers to the Alamo City Friday night in the conclusion of a quick two-game homestand at the AT&T Center.

The Spurs recorded a 109-95 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday and were led by Marco Belinelli's 22 points. Danny Green scored 13 and Boras Diaw added 12 for San Antonio, which played without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard.

"I haven't been this pleased in a while. I just saw a lot of guys who haven't played much play the fundamental game," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

San Antonio shot 50.7 percent from the floor and hit 10-of-19 3-pointers. The bench scored a season-best 58 points.

Knicks star Carmelo Anthony sat out due to left knee soreness.

The defending NBA champion Spurs, who have a 10-0 mark when scoring 100-plus points, are 8-1 at home and have won 11 of their last 13 games. Parker (hamstring) is probable Friday and Leonard (hand) is listed as questionable versus the Lakers.

Duncan and Ginobili should be back in the lineup. Duncan is 15 points shy of passing Jerry West for 18th on the all-time scoring list.

Los Angeles will play three in a row on the road against San Antonio, Minnesota and Indiana, and is 3-7 as the visitor this season.

The Lakers ended a three-game losing streak with Tuesday's 98-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings, as Bryant scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half and made 11-of-27 shots.

Bryant is second in the NBA with 25.5 ppg and 31 points shy of passing Michael Jordan (32,292) for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

"I just wanted to keep us in it," Bryant said. "Down the stretch we were active defensively. We made steals and our energy carried us through."

Carlos Boozer tallied 15 points off the bench, Nick Young scored 12 in a reserve role and Ed Davis added 11 and six rebounds. Davis, of course, replaced Boozer in the starting lineup. The Lakers, who made just 39.6 percent from the field and erased a 12-point deficit, scored 21 points off 16 Sacramento turnovers.

The Lakers allowed 14 points in the fourth quarter and 40 in the second half.

Guard Wesley Johnson (illness) is questionable Friday.

Los Angeles suffered a 93-80 loss versus San Antonio on Nov. 14 and Bryant was held to just nine points on 1-of-14 shooting. Duncan recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who took three of four meetings with the Lakers last season and are 8-2 in their last 10 against Los Angeles.

The Lakers and Spurs have split the last 10 games in the Alamo City.

In 56 games (51 starts) against the Spurs, Bryant is averaging 24.1 ppg.