INQUIRER Sports

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant scored 20 points in 31 minutes as the Los Angeles Lakers grabbed top spot in the Western Conference standings with a 106-85 win over the shorthanded San Antonio Spurs Sunday.

Lamar Odom collected 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers (56-25), which is one-half game ahead of the New Orleans Hornets (55-25) for the best record in the West with one game left on their National Basketball Association schedule.

"We only have one more," Odom said. "At this time of year, I've never been here before in my career. There's a point where we win as many games in the Western Conference and get home-court advantage for the playoffs."

The Spurs (54-26) fell 1 1/2 games off the pace with two contests remaining and dropped into third place in the ultra-competitive Southwest Division behind New Orleans and the Houston Rockets (54-25), who are one-half game back of the Hornets.

"I don't think that anybody is counting out anybody in the West," Manu Ginobili, who did not dress, said. "All eight teams have chances, so regardless if we finish one, seven, or four, you got to have a shot because everything is so close.

"It's going to be a tough thing for everybody."

The Rockets face the Denver Nuggets later Sunday night.

Pau Gasol had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who outscored the Spurs, 26-14, in the third to put a stranglehold on the game.

"I think he (Gasol) makes it all come together for the Lakers in a sense that when you have a big guy running the triangle who can pass, catch and shoot the way he does makes it difficult for any team," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Gasol.

Los Angeles was aided by the absence of Ginobili, who has been a legitimate MVP candidate while coming off the bench this season for San Antonio. He missed his second straight game with a strained right groin.

"I'll be fine for the playoffs," Ginobili said.

France's Tony Parker scored 20 points for the Spurs, who travel to face the Sacramento Kings on Monday and finish the season against the Northwest Division champion Utah Jazz on Wednesday.