By Jeff McDonald
His Spurs teammates joke stone-faced rookie forward Kawhi Leonard hasn’t changed his facial expression since the day he was drafted.
Five months into Leonard’s Spurs career, coach Gregg Popovich is still wondering what his voice sounds like.
“Far as I know,” Popovich said, “he hasn’t spoken.”
Leonard was equally Sphinx-like Friday at the ATT Center, before the Spurs dropped a 121-97 anvil on the Los Angeles Lakers, even when offered the most daunting assignment of his young career.
Kobe Bryant was back in the lineup for the Lakers. And Leonard would be the first to guard him.
With some assistance, Leonard held his own against the NBA’s leading scorer. The Spurs’ Big Three did the rest, erupting for the kind of all-around performance that will come in handy when the playoffs begin next weekend.
Tim Duncan had 21 points and eight rebounds, Tony Parker had 20 points and 10 assists and Manu Ginobili contributed 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Duncan added three steals, three assists and two blocks for the Western Conference-leading Spurs, who were ahead by 18 heading into the fourth quarter.
The victory was the Spurs’ sixth in a row since losing to the Lakers 99-84 at home April 11. It had much more in common with the Spurs’ trip to Staples Center on Tuesday, when they ran the Lakers (40-24) off their own floor in a 112-91 victory.
That was the Lakers’ most lopsided loss of the season. Until Friday.
“Especially last game, we wanted to come out and put forth a better effort than the first game (on April 11),” Duncan said. “We did that (in L.A.), and thought we could carry it over.”
Unlike last season, when the Spurs lost eight of their last 12, they are steaming toward the playoffs on a roll. After Friday’s ? triumph, the Spurs (46-16) have won nine of their last 11, 18 of their last 21 and 34 of their last 41.
“It beats the alternative,” said Popovich, whose team was won four straight games by at least 21 points.
“Everybody wants to be in a rhythm now. It’s too late in the season to go into a slump and lose three out of five, something like that. To be winning down the stretch, nobody would trade that.”
Bryant sat out the previous two meetings with the Spurs, and seven straight games overall, with a sore shin.
He returned Friday to find himself defended by a rookie from San Diego State who was in kindergarten when Bryant made his NBA debut.
Popovich handed Leonard the pass-fail assignment purposefully.
“He’s learning a lot about all these guys he’s watched on TV,” Popovich said of Leonard. “It’s been a good experience for him, and seeing Kobe is good for him because he’ll learn a lot. Kobe can show him a few things.”
The 20-year-old Leonard, who grew up an hour outside of Los Angeles, eagerly accepted the mission.
“You just try to stay in front of him, make him take tough shots and hope he misses,” Leonard said.
Bryant gave Leonard his first lesson on the Lakers’ first possession, beating him backdoor for a layup and drawing a foul.
But as the night wore on Leonard — spelled occasionally on Kobe duty by Ginobili and Stephen Jackson — helped keep Bryant from going nuclear. Bryant finished his comeback with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting but did most of his damage after the game was out of reach.
By game’s end, the Spurs had scored the kind of victory that proved their Tuesday visit to Los Angeles was no fluke.
When it was all over, and the Spurs had emptied the bench against Bryant’s Lakers, Leonard reacted as he had all season.
His night’s work complete, Leonard turned abruptly at the final horn, heading down the tunnel toward the locker room, tossing his wrist band into the crowd along the way.
He did not once crack a smile.
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter:?@JMcDonald_SAEN
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Spurs 121, Lakers 97: April 20, 2012
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) scores against Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Blake (05) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) gets a layup against Los Angeles Lakers’ Ramon Sessions (07) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) fights for a rebound against Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Danny Green (04) fouls Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) reaches to attempt a steal against Los Angeles Lakers’ Ramon Sessions (07) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) gestures after getting fouled in the first half against the Spurs at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) gets a shot off against Los Angeles Lakers’s Matt Barnes (09) and Steve Blake (05) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Danny Green (04) drives past Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (left) and Matt Bonner (right) apply pressure against Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) take a breather during the game against the Spurs in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) goes up for a shot under the basket against Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol (16) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) makes a pass against Los Angeles Lakers’ Josh McRoberts (06) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) defends against Los Angeles Lakers’ Metta World Peace (15) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (left) provides support to teammate Stephen Jackson (03) during their game against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) scores against Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Blake (05) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) dunks against Los Angeles Lakers’ Troy Murphy (14) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum (17) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) tightly guards against Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich debates a call with a game official during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) ponders a call against him during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the ATT Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
