Lakers shut down Duncan to beat sleepy Spurs

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Los Angeles Lakers held Tim Duncan
to 12 points and eased past the San Antonio Spurs 100-92 on
Friday to register their fourth win in five games.

Kobe Bryant poured in 29 points and Luke Walton chipped in
with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Mike Finley and Brent Barry each had 16 for the Spurs, who
had six players in double figures but slipped to their second
defeat in three games.

Arriving back in San Antonio early on Friday morning
following a Thursday game in Phoenix, the Spurs appeared
lifeless and trailed by double digits for much of the contest.

Duncan went just 5-for-12 from the floor.

The Lakers raced to a 51-37 lead at the half, stretching
their advantage to 64-46 before easing up.

The Spurs trimmed the deficit to seven with just over a
minute to play but would get no closer.

In Miami, Jason Richardson nailed a career-high 44 points
as the Golden State Warriors upset the Heat 111-106, snapping
their 10-game winning streak.

Richardson’s career night overshadow a season high 42 point
performance from the Heat’s Dwyane Wade.

Shaquille O’Neal had 21 points and 15 rebounds as the Heat
lost for just the seventh time at home this season.

In Toronto, Andre Miller had 23 points and Earl Boykins
added 18 as the Denver Nuggets dumped the Raptors 108-97,
extending their winning streak to four games.

Evans becomes the first player to collect 20 rebounds
without scoring a point in game since the Chicago Bulls Dennis
Rodman against Phoenix on December 15, 1997.

The victory, however, could prove costly as Carmelo Anthony
left the game in the third quarter with an apparent hamstring
injury.

Mike James had 26 points for the slumping Raptors, who lost
for the ninth time in 10 games.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Phoenix)