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In a Sunday matinee, the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs (54-25) will travel to Tensile Town to take on the Los Angeles Lakers (at 3:30 pm EST /12:30 pm PST) on what’ll probably be a preview of this year’s Western Conference Finals. SBGGlobal has the LAL a -7 favorite against the SAS with the O/U at 190 total. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers made quite a statement Friday night (for the MVP race and to the rest of the league) with a victory over the first place New Orleans Hornets. But LA needed some additional help in the standings, and they got it from an unlikely source. On Saturday night, the 38-42 Sacramento Kings handed the New Orleans Hornets their 25th loss of the regular season bringing them to an even tie with Los Angeles at 55-25. With the purple and gold holding the tie breaker (having won the regular season series) against coach  Byron Scott’s team, this places LA once again atop the Western Conference standings (with 2 to play). One of those two games however, will be against the defending NBA champions (no. 2 seeded) San Antonio Spurs who will look to win back-to-back championships for the first time in the Duncan/Popovich-era. The LAL come into Sunday’s contest having clinched the 19th Pacific Division Title in their illustrious history, while the SAS come in 2nd in the Southwest Division behind the aforementioned Hornets. Side Note: Lakers C Andrew Bynum’s timetable to return was initially projected for Sunday against the Spurs. However, after visiting with specialists (earlier this week), there’s reason for concern in Laker land. Bynum, who was having a breakout season (before the injury) wasn’t cleared (by doctors) to practice with the team. They are now saying that not only will he miss the remaining 2 regular season games for LA, but perhaps the entire playoffs. NBA Prediction: LAL-7 * Also, look for the Detroit Pistons to beat the Toronto Raptors Sunday beginning at 12:30 pm EST; Bonus pick: DET -5 ½
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