LAKERS NOTEBOOK: ONE MORE TEST IN HOME ROOM.

Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO -- The Lakers have been building toward this since the calendar turned to December, a final exam tonight against San Antonio at Staples Center, before the road games start coming fast and furious.

The Spurs came into Saturday tied with Utah for the NBA's best record at 15-5 and have won four consecutive games. In their victories the past week, they led Golden State by as many as 42points, Charlotte by 22 and the Clippers by 37.

``They're playing as good as anybody can play right now,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, noting that San Antonio also is 8-2 on the road.

``I think they're the toughest test for anybody,'' Kobe Bryant added, ``just because they play so well and they're so organized and so steady.''

Whether the Lakers will have Bryant available was in doubt Saturday.

Bryant sat out all of practice and did only light walking while trying to keep his sprained right ankle elevated.

Bryant was wearing a blue compression sleeve that stretched from his thigh to his foot, designed to pump the swelling out of the ankle. He didn't play Friday and said he wouldn't play tonight if the ankle felt the same way it did Saturday.

However, Bryant was optimistic that the ankle would improve with another 24 hours rest and continued therapy Saturday night.

``We'll get up tomorrow morning,'' Bryant said, ``and it should feel better than it does today.''

If Bryant cannot play, Maurice Evans would start again in his place.

The Lakers will have to put forth a strong defensive effort against the Spurs, with Smush Parker staying in front of Tony Parker and Kwame Brown using his size against Tim Duncan.

The Lakers also are hoping to finish their front-loaded schedule of home games on a positive note. They played 15 of their first 20 games at home but have eight of their next 10 after Sunday on the road, including a six-game Christmas trip.

Another ankle: Vladimir Radmanovic suffered a sprained ankle going through a dry run at practice. Jackson chuckled when recounting the injury because there was no contact and only light running involved.

Radmanovic's status had not been determined.

Bryant on Odom: Entering his third season playing with Lamar Odom, Bryant offered his thoughts about the evolution taking place with his teammate.

Although Odom has had two lackluster games this week, he still is averaging 18.4 points, 9.0rebounds and 4.9 assists.

``Last year, what I used to have to remind him every once in a while was, `Do you want to be a great player or do you want to be a (so-so) player?''' Bryant said. ``When you think about it, if he could step outside of himself, he could take it to another level.

``This year, I haven't had to do that at all because it's just clicked with him. Again, I think it was the playoffs. The series he had against Phoenix, he stepped up (and) had an incredible series. I think that showed him what he's capable of doing.''

Bryant also was asked about the locker-room tribute that Odom pays to his infant son Jayden, who suffocated in his crib in June. Odom has hung an oversized T-shirt with a drawing of his son's face.

``The first time I saw it was very difficult,'' Bryant said. ``I think for everybody that saw it, it was tough. But for Lamar, it's not a moment of sadness. It's a moment of honor, for the life the child was able to live up to that point. From that point forward, it's not a shocking moment. It's happy because it makes him feel good.''

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LAKERS vs. SAN ANTONIO

- Ross Siler