[0] TEXAS-SIZED COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT LAKERS FALL TO SAN ANTONIO IN OT SAN ANTONIO 93, LAKERS 89.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

There will be bigger disappointments, but the Lakers will find no greater heartbreak than the one they suffered Friday night.

After fighting back from a 15-point deficit and overcoming early struggles by Kobe Bryant, the Lakers rallied back and shoved back and pushed the San Antonio Spurs right into an extra period.

But when Bryant faltered late, so did the Lakers, falling 93-89 to the Spurs before a deflated 18,997 at Staples Center.

With the victory, the Spurs tied the season series 2-2 and ended the Lakers' winning streak at four games.

The Spurs grabbed a five-point lead in overtime and this time Bryant could not save them. Though he scored the Lakers' first six points of the period, he committed two crucial turnovers. He lost one possession on a charging call and another on a double-dribble call, with the Lakers trailing 92-89 and less than a minute to play.

Tim Duncan missed two free throws with 14.8 seconds remaining to give the Lakers one last shot. Bryant's 3-point try over Antonio Daniels hit the front of the rim and Danny Ferry grabbed the rebound to seal the win.

Bryant finished with 38 points. Shaquille O'Neal had 33 but none in overtime.

When the Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, the Lakers assumed sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division for the first time since Nov. 29. They held onto that slot with the Trail Blazers' shocking loss to Vancouver on Friday.

That the Lakers, having weathered infighting, injury, controversy and a drug suspension, are positioned atop the division qualifies as a minor miracle.

``I think it's a residual of having a strong season last year that we still have some residual left from the championship feeling or the championship air that we had last year,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``We're using up that reserve, though.... And we've been fortunate. We've been buoyed by the bench and by some veterans and by some players that have stepped up their game in the absence of Kobe and Shaq as we've gone through the season.''

The Spurs led by five late in the fourth quarter but rallied behind Bryant and O'Neal. Bryant hit an 18-footer over Antonio Daniels to tie the game at 81-81 and hit a pair of free throws to tie it again at 83-83 with 16.7 seconds left.

Derek Anderson missed a 20-footer with time expiring to send the game into overtime.

The Lakers had beaten the Spurs in each of the last two meetings, but San Antonio came into Friday's series finale with a bit of a new look. By their own description, the Spurs had assumed the look of the 1999 squad that won the championship.

With an offensive boost from ex-Clipper Anderson, San Antonio entered the game having won 18 of their last 22 games.

``They've got enthusiasm, they're playing good defense, they're offense has taken another leap forward with the speed that Anderson's given them,'' Jackson said. ``I think that they look good, they look very good.''

Integrating Anderson in a Texas Tower-dominated offense took some time, but the dividends are clear.

``You've got a lot of size in that post all the time, this kid that's a slasher for the most part, finding room to operate out there on the court, and he's adjusted very well,'' Jackson said.

There were anxious moments in the first half, as the Lakers fell behind early, threw a few too many possessions away and watched Bryant once again struggle to find the net. With 4:19 left in the half, they found themselves down 15 points.

But the Lakers skipped off the court at halftime to a chorus of cheers from the home crowd after mounting a 12-0 run to cut the deficit to 44-41. They extended the run to 16-0 early in the third quarter and took as much as a four-point lead.

Bryant skipped the morning shootaround because of an upset stomach and didn't seem to recover by game time - he missed 10 of his first 13 field-goal attempts, the third consecutive game in which Bryant has played a horrid first half.

For the second consecutive game, however, Bryant atoned with a strong third quarter, scoring 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

``I am concerned a little bit,'' Jackson said of Bryant. ``He's run down a little bit, so it's not unusual to get sick.''

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Photo: (color) San Antonio's Tim Duncan, left, deflects the ball away from the Lakers' Horace Grant at Staples Center.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer