Jan 9, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace (15) has his shot blocked by San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second half at the AT

Playoff Schedule

Game 1: at SA, Sun., April 21, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Game 2: at SA, Wed., April 24, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Game 3: at LA, Fri., April 26, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Game 4: at LA, Sun., April 28, 7:00 p.m., TNT

Game 5: at SA, Tue., April 30, TBD*

Game 6: at LA, Thu., May 2, TBD*

Game 7: at SA, Sat.., May 4, TBD*

Season Record

San Antonio Spurs (58-24, Southwest Division Champions) vs Los Angeles Lakers (45-37, third in Pacific Division)

Season Series: 2-1 San Antonio

November 13, 2012 (84-82 for San Antonio)

January 9, 2013 (108-105 for San Antonio)

April 14, 2013 (91-86 for Los Angeles)

Key Matchups

Tony Parker vs Steve Nash

Tim Duncan vs Dwight Howard

Kawhi Leonard vs Metta World Peace

Stat Leaders

Points: Spurs – Tony Parker (20.3), Dwight Howard (17.1)

Rebounds: Spurs –  Tim Duncan (9.9), Dwight Howard (12.4)

Assists: Spurs – Tony Parker (7.6), Steve Nash (6.7)

Fun Fact

The Los Angeles Lakers are 34-18 all-time in playoff games against the San Antonio Spurs, dating all the way back to 1982.

Why the San Antonio Spurs will win this series:

A series victory for the Spurs isn’t a given. Over their last 20 games, San Antonio is playing .500 basketball. Over their last 10 games, the Spurs are just 3-7. However, in that span, several players, including Manu Ginobili (who will be good to go come Sunday), Tiago Splitter and Tony Parker have seen fewer minutes. If the entire roster was healthy, they could have easily clinched the top-seed in the Western Conference. If Kobe Bryant hadn’t torn his achilles, I might be singing an entirely different tune on this matchup. However, that’s not the case. San Antonio also has home-court advantage in this series, which is huge considering they were 35-6 at the AT&T Center this season. The Lakers were just 16-25 on the road, so if this series does go seven, the Spurs should be considered the favorites, just on home-court advantage alone.

How the Los Angeles Lakers can pull off the upset:

Los Angeles is riding some serious momentum for the time being, having won all but one game in the month of April, including their last two at home to clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference. If Steve Nash can get on the court and be the Nash of old, the entire dynamic of this team changes. He would have more flexibility as far as distributing the basketball goes, with Bryant being hurt and all. That’s where the two-time league MVP really shines. Let him run the offense and get his fellow shooters some open-looks. Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol will get their touches down low, but they are going to need some assistance around them to take this series from the Spurs. Stay healthy, get the ball in transition and hope for the best.

Final Prediction: San Antonio Spurs in six

Chris Walder is the Editor of Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports

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Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

What Kobe Bryant described as the “worst injury he’s suffered since the 2000 NBA Finals”, didn’t even keep the Lakers star out of action for one game.

Just 48 hours after severely spraining his left ankle during the closing seconds of Wednesday night’s road loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Bryant was back on the court for Los Angeles in an all-important matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

Considering how swollen his ankle was just one day after suffering the injury, it was pretty amazing to see Kobe be able to walk, let alone play.

17yrs. Countless fades. This has happened TWICE. Jalen and Now Ankle still very swollen. Treatment all day #focus twitter.com/kobebryant/sta…

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 14, 2013

Bryant played all 12 minutes of the first quarter, missing all four of his shots from the field. He also had one rebound and two assists.

He wouldn’t be heard from for the rest of the night, as he was physically unable to keep playing on his swollen ankle.

Kobe told D’Antoni after the 1st Q that he just couldn’t go anymore. Tells you that the ankle was really, really hurting.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 16, 2013

It’s not as if his teammates needed much from him on this night, as Los Angeles ultimately prevailed, knocking off Indiana by a final score of 99-93. The Lakers have gone 8-6 in their last 14 road games, after starting the season 5-15.

Dwight Howard led all Lakers scorers with 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. The team also got some major contributions from its second-unit, as guard Steve Blake and veteran forward Antawn Jamison lit it up from downtown, combining for nine three-pointers and 35 points.

The Indiana Pacers are no slouch (second in Eastern Conference), so the Lakers defeating a team of that caliber away from Staples Center with Bryant on the sidelines has to be taken as a good sign moving forward.

I can appreciate Kobe’s toughness and his willingness to help his team, even though he is clearly in a great deal of pain. He’s a leader in every sense of the word. He’s not the kind of player that can just sit back and watch as his team scratches and claws to move up the standings in the Western Conference. Hell, there is still a chance the Lakers could move down and miss out on the postseason entirely.

However, he needs to air more on the side of caution and sit out the next few games to give his ankle a chance to heal properly. Their next three games are against the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, all of which rank in the bottom-third of the league. Nothing is a given, but L.A should be able to handle the next week without its star player.

Trying to go against the Pacers on Friday was admirable, but who knows what kind of further damage Bryant may have done.

The Lakers need the “Black Mamba”, but they don’t need him right now. There are 15 games remaining on the schedule, so there is still enough time to change their destiny as far as making the playoffs and getting a decent enough first-round matchup.

For now, just sit back, rest up and heal.

Chris Walder is the Editor of Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports

Be sure to “LIKE” the Facebook Fan Page for Sir Charles in Charge by clicking here