LOS ANGELES -- The improved Los Angeles Lakers play host to the San Antonio Spurs in a matchup of two of the NBAs top offensive teams and best defensive clubs on Friday night at Staples Center.The Spurs (9-3) are riding a four-game winning streak after a 110-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night. Ex-Laker Pau Gasol led the way for San Antonio with a season-high 24 points and nine rebounds. Gasol will face his former team for the first time in a Spurs uniform.The Lakers (7-5), who have won three of their last four games, will face an obvious and early challenge against the Spurs, annually one of the leagues top teams. After dropping consecutive contests to the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets at home more than a week ago, the Spurs responded with consecutive wins over the Detroit Pistons, the Rockets, the Miami Heat and the Kings.Were connecting with each other better, moving the ball better, said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who is tied with Larry Brown for seventh on the all-time NBA list for regular-season coaching victories at 1,098. Were improving.The Spurs are 6-0 on the road and have captured the last five contests against the Lakers, going 4-0 last season. Ball movement and contributions from several players sparked the Spurs recent surge.Forward Kawhi Leonard, again an early MVP candidate, is averaging 25 points per game and 2.4 steals (third best in the league). LaMarcus Aldridge is scoring 17.8 points per game and hitting 54.5 percent of his 3-point attempts.Were at our best when we move the ball, when we make the defense work and we find the open guys, Gasol said. We get much better shots that way, and it pays off. It creates a flow and energy that carries over to the defensive end.The Spurs average 101.9 points on offense (19th in the NBA), but their defense is holding opponents to 96.8 points (fourth).The Lakers have emerged as one of the leagues top scoring teams. Los Angeles is ranked second in scoring at 110 points per game, trailing only the Golden State Warriors (117.4 points).Point guard DAngelo Russell scored a season-high 32 points and forward Julius Randle contributed a triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists Wednesday in a 125-118 win over the Brooklyn Nets.The Lakers bench has been another strength, averaging a league-best 50.6 points. Reserve guard Lou Williams has been one of the main sparkplugs with a 15.6 scoring average.They have been great all year, so obviously were not going to complain about them, but even before the (Brooklyn) game I said I think the reason that they have so much success is because of how unselfish they play as a group, Lakers coach Luke Walton said of his reserves.Both clubs are among the leaders in 3-point shooting percentage. San Antonio is ranked second at 39.2 percent per game, with Los Angeles is tied for third with Golden State at 37.4 percent.The Spurs will be without center Dewayne Dedmon (left knee sprain), who is not traveling with the team. Jeremy Lin Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Cam Reddish Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. 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NAPLES, Fla. -- Harris English and Matt Kuchar shot a 6-under 66 in windy modified alternate shot play Friday to take the second-round lead in the Franklin Templeton Shootout.English and Kuchar were at 21 under at Tiburon after opening with a 57 on Thursday in the scramble round. They won in 2013 in their first start together and finished second the last two years.Alternate shots always a tricky format. If you would have told us 6 under bogey-free in todays conditions, wed take that straightaway, Kuchar said. Id be surprised if another group was bogey-free today. It was good golf. I dont remember a hole being nervous that we might walk away with a bogey. Every hole we kind of had a chance and it was a good, fun round of golf.The event ends Sunday with a better-ball round.We would have the same game plan tomorrow whether were up four or up one, Kuchar said. You have to keep plodding away having two chances at birdies. You keep trying to make pars out here and these guys are going to catch you and pass you.Wisconsin friends Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly were a stroke back after a 68. The 49-year-old Strickerr is teaming with the 50-year-old Kelly for the record eighth time.dddddddddddd They won in 2009, and Kelly also won with Rod Pampling in 2006.Its just a hard day, its hard, Stricker said. Im driving it out there a little past him, so hes hitting all the irons and its just difficult. Its just a difficult position to put him in every hole and Im just sitting back watching him hitting the irons. Its tough. You dont want to make a mistake, hit it in the water or plug it in a bunker, but its going to happen. Its just a difficult day. Its hard to get any momentum at all. You feel like youre just clawing and scratching your way around.Charles Howell III-Rory Sabbatini (69) and Kevin Chappell-Kevin Kisner (68) were 16 under. Defending champions Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker were seventh at 14 under after a 70.Lexi Thompson and Bryson DeChambeau were 10th at 11 under after a 71. Thompson is the second woman to compete in the event, following Annika Sorenstam with Fred Couples in 2006. ' ' '