Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - Two surging Western Conference powers do battle on Friday when they San Antonio Spurs tangle with the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.

The Spurs have won their last six games -- all on the road, while the Lakers have captured seven consecutive contests. LA is still one-half game behind Houston for the eighth and final playoff spot.

San Antonio is 6-1 so far on a nine-game road trip and is coming off a 116-111 overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Emanuel Ginobili buried a clutch three-pointer with 42 seconds left in OT to lift the Spurs.

Tim Duncan poured in a game-high 36 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out seven assists for the Spurs. Tony Parker finished with 22 points and Malik Rose added 21 and 15 boards in the win.

The Spurs trailed by two late in the extra session before Ginobili sank a three-pointer to put San Antonio ahead for good. The Spurs made their free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

Bruce Bowen had 13 points in the win for San Antonio, which shot 48.7 percent from the floor and made 34-of-39 from the stripe.

Spurs center David Robinson did not make the trip to Portland due to a sore right hip. He is expected to miss Friday's game.

San Antonio is 15-12 on the road this season and 21-11 against the Western Conference.

The Lakers moved three games above .500 after posting a 113-102 victory in Denver on Wednesday.

Kobe Bryant scored an NBA season-high 51 points in less than three quarters, as the Lakers completed a home-and-home sweep of the Nuggets. Shaquille O'Neal added 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Los Angeles, which posted a 121-93 win on Tuesday night at the Staples Center.

The final score gave no indication as to the hurting the Lakers put on the Nuggets. Los Angeles led by as many as 33 points and Phil Jackson's team played primarily with reserves in the final quarter, when Denver outscored LA 33-11.

Bryant had 20 points in the first quarter and 36 at the half. His 51 points for the game came in just 31 minutes of action and established a Pepsi Center record. It was five points off his career-best, set January 14 last year against Memphis. Bryant went 15-of-28 from the field, including 3-of-8 from three-point range and missed just two of his 20 free throw attempts.

The white-hot Bryant has scored at least 35 points in each of his last seven games.

The Lakers have won eight of their last 10 home games and are 16-8 as the hosts this season. Los Angeles is 16-13 against the Western Conference.

These teams have already met twice this season. The Spurs claimed an 87-82 victory in LA on October 29 before posting a 95-88 home win on November 20.

The Spurs have captured eight of the last 13 regular-season meetings overall. However, San Antonio has dropped seven of its last 10 road games against the Lakers.