SoCal NBA Preview

San Antonio (17-4) at LA Lakers (12-8), 7:30 pm
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will have to take down the reigning NBA champions if they want to match their longest winning streak of the season. Bryant and the surging Lakers shoot for their fourth straight win Thursday when they host the San Antonio Spurs, who hope to have Tim Duncan back in the lineup. Los Angeles dropped a 107-92 decision at San Antonio in the last meeting between the teams on November 13, a game in which Bryant scored just 18 points. But the Lakers reeled off wins in their next four games, their longest winning streak of the season. Bryant scored 28 points Sunday to lead the Lakers to their third consecutive victory, a 123-113 triumph over the Golden State Warriors. Andrew Bynum added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who improved to 7-4 at home this season. The 7-foot Bynum figures to have an easier time Thursday since Duncan, who has missed three consecutive games with ankle and knee injuries, likely will be sidelined again. San Antonio suffered its first setback without their perennial All-Star on Tuesday, a 96-84 setback to the Warriors. Matt Bonner scored 25 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to pace the Spurs, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.