SoCal NBA Preview

LA Lakers (3-2) at San Antonio (5-1), 5:30 pm, TNT
SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers have gotten off to a fast start this season. But they could be hard-pressed to keep things going against the San Antonio Spurs. Bryant and the Lakers aim for their fourth win in five games Tuesday when they visit the defending champion Spurs.

Since dropping a hard-fought 95-93 decision to the Houston Rockets in their season opener, the Lakers have won three of their last four contests, averaging 112.3 points over that span. As usual, Los Angeles' offensive catalyst has been Bryant, who has played brilliantly amidst numerous trade rumors. The two-time reigning scoring champion is averaging a league-leading 30.4 points per game. Bryant was outstanding again Friday, scoring 30 points to lead the Lakers to a 107-93 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The win also marked the return of Los Angeles forward Lamar Odom, who collected 18 points and 10 rebounds after missing the first four games of the season while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. "Lamar's back, and that's a step in the right direction," Bryant said. "He looked great. He looked like he was in a great rhythm."

The Lakers figure to have a tougher time scoring against the hardened Spurs, who are riding a three-game winning streak and are 4-0 at home this season. Spurs swingman Manu Ginobili was solid off the bench Sunday, scoring 21 points in a 113-88 thrashing of the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite coming off the bench in all seven of San Antonio's games, Ginobili leads the Spurs in scoring at 19.9 points per game. Los Angeles won two of its three meetings with San Antonio last year season.